Compare towns
Brookline vs Elmore vs Ripton vs Wolcott
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
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 | Elmore | Ripton | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
964 |
508Lowest |
1,507Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
— | $1,059±$118Lowest 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,930Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wolcott School District |
| High school 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.