Compare towns
Brandon vs Ripton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Brandon | Ripton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
508Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.