Compare towns
Berlin vs Ripton vs Springfield vs Clarendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Ripton | Springfield | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$220,900±$32k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
— | $963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$305 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Clarendon 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| 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.