Compare towns
Brookline vs Ripton vs Castleton vs Hyde Park
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%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Ripton | Castleton | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
508Lowest |
4,453Highest |
513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.6±10.1 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Hyde Park 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,306±$285 6% above VT |
| Brookline and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,893 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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.