Compare towns
Brookline vs Ripton vs Waitsfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
508Lowest |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Brookline 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%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Waitsfield 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Waitsfield 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 40% above VT |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
| Brookline and Waitsfield 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.