Compare towns

Brookline vs Colrain vs Ripton vs Westminster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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.

MeasureBrooklineColrainRiptonWestminster
People
Population
531
1,627Highest
508
497Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
49.6±8.7Highest
28% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
43.3±11.5Lowest
11% above U.S.
Colrain and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
28.4%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.4%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±11.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the U.S. average
$80,673±$10kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$81,000±$22k
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
13% below U.S.
$284,300±$14kLowest
15% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$313,600±$39k
6% below U.S.
Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,102±$77
22% below U.S.
—
$749±$315Lowest
47% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Highest
60% above U.S.
$4,317Lowest
38% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,480
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
46%±22.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
6.1%±43.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
30 min
13% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±15.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 — — — #53 of 70 in VT
School district — Mohawk Trail 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

U.S. 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.