Compare towns
Brookline vs Ripton vs Townsend 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 people working from home (20.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Townsend | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
508Lowest |
9,100Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and Ripton 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±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Townsend and Ripton 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. |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% 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% |
82% 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. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% 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% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | North Middlesex | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| 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.