Compare towns

Brookline vs Ripton vs Webster

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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% 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.

MeasureBrooklineRiptonWebster
People
Population
531
508Lowest
2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.1±2.7
16% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
44.7±7.6Lowest
15% above 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%
22.6%±8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Webster 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%
19.4%±1.3Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16kLowest
about the U.S. average
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$107,171±$14k
33% above U.S.
Ripton and Webster 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.
$338,500±$30k
about the U.S. average
Ripton and Webster 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.
—
$1,396±$622Lowest
about the U.S. average
Brookline and Webster 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.
$6,021Highest
93% 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%
53.6%±71Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Webster 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%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
31 minHighest
16% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.1%±3.9Lowest
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
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.