Compare towns
Brookfield vs Cavendish vs Lincoln vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Brookfield | Cavendish | Lincoln | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486Highest |
1,242 |
1,394 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$89,063±$29kLowest 10% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,000±$546Highest 19% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
— |
| Cavendish and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Lincoln 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lincoln Town School District | 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 Our Story | 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.