Compare towns
Wolcott vs Middlebury vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
Middlebury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Ryegate has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wolcott | Middlebury | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,507 |
7,220Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9Highest about the VT average |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ryegate and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$86,250±$18kHighest 6% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlebury and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Middlebury and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930 22% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wolcott School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.