Compare towns
Braintree vs Dummerston vs Putney 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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Dummerston | Putney | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 11% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Braintree 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.