Compare towns
Brookline vs Putney vs Ripton vs Whitingham
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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Putney | Ripton | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Whitingham 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Whitingham 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $673±$150 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Ripton 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| 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.