Compare towns
Berkshire vs Lowell vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the most renters (22.7% rent).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Berkshire | Lowell | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,745Highest |
1,070 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lowell School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.