Compare towns

Brookline vs Ripton vs Springfield vs Putney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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.

MeasureBrooklineRiptonSpringfieldPutney
People
Population
531
508Lowest
1,122
2,622Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
Springfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37kLowest
13% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$300,000±$44k
10% below U.S.
Ripton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
23% above U.S.
—
$1,096±$217
22% below U.S.
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
60% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town — None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.