Compare towns
Brookfield vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Sheldon
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%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Brookfield | Plainfield | Ripton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
1,314 |
508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Brookfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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.