Compare towns
Brookline vs Marshfield vs Ripton vs Worcester
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 kids (20% under 18).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Marshfield | Ripton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
470Lowest |
508 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield 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% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Marshfield 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 |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Marshfield 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.