Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ripton vs Williston vs Elmore
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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Ripton | Williston | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% 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%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Williston 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23kLowest 21% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$315,800±$47kLowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Ripton 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Williston 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 55% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None 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.