Compare towns

Brighton vs Ripton vs Morrisville vs Ludlow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureBrightonRiptonMorrisvilleLudlow
People
Population
1,167
508Lowest
2,664Highest
808
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+6.5%
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±11.6Lowest
5% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
45.3±6
5% above VT
48.7±5.6Highest
13% above VT
Ludlow and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.1%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
Brighton and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.4%±0.5
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
39.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
10.6%±5.5
VT: 7%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Ripton and Morrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,375±$21kLowest
42% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$68,240±$15k
16% below VT
$56,667±$19k
30% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$276,300±$20k
13% below VT
$304,000±$32k
4% below VT
Ripton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
—
$1,289±$116Highest
4% above VT
$1,018±$91
18% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360Lowest
33% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,542
10% below VT
$4,237
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
49.5%±15.1
VT: 48.4%
33%±13.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Brighton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
52.5%
VT: 73.2%
51.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
22 min
5% below VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
Work from home
12.4%±8.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
17.3%±6.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ludlow and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Brighton School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — —
High school 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.