Compare towns
Brookline vs Ripton vs Ludlow vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($291k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
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 | Ludlow | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
508Lowest |
1,990Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Ludlow and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Ludlow 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 |
— | $1,112±$151Lowest 10% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,890Lowest about the VT average |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | — |
| 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.