Compare towns
Braintree vs Calais vs Dummerston vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Braintree | Calais | Dummerston | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,713 |
2,090Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
— |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.