Compare towns
Brookline vs Ripton vs Westford
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%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
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 | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
508Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest 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%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Westford 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Westford 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Lowest 40% above VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Brookline 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 |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.