Compare towns
Brookline vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Putney
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Sheldon | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest 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 |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% 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 |
— | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Brookline and Sheldon 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.