Compare towns
Berlin vs Braintree vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% under 18).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Berlin | Braintree | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,026 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
— |
| Berlin and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.