Compare towns
Wolcott vs Ripton vs Middlesex vs Hyde Park
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 most kids (22.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Ripton | Middlesex | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
508Lowest |
1,943 |
3,000Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
41.6±3.9Lowest 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Middlesex 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$84,375±$9k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$198,400±$39kLowest 37% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,007±$340Lowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,883Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.8%±14.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Ripton 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Wolcott School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.