Compare towns
Brookline vs Charlotte vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Charlotte has the most expensive homes ($695k median).
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 | Brookline | Charlotte | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
3,916Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
52.2±5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| Charlotte and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$144,375±$27kHighest 78% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Charlotte and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$695,300±$53kHighest 120% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Lowest 40% above VT |
$1,738±$803Highest 41% above VT |
— |
| Charlotte and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$9,221Highest 83% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.1%±28.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Charlotte and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.8%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charlotte and Brookline 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 | — | #3 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 |
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.