Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Putney vs Ripton vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Brattleboro | Putney | Ripton | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
2,622 |
508Lowest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | $1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 83% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chesterfield and Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.