Compare towns
Braintree vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Dover | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026 |
1,466Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Braintree and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Braintree and Ripton 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% |
29.5%±6.2Lowest 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Highest 32% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— |
| Braintree and Dover 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest 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 | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest 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 | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Braintree 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.