Compare towns
Brookline vs Middlesex 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 renters (15.1% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Middlesex | Ripton | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
1,943Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
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%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brookline 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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 |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Brookline and Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.