Compare towns
Brookline vs Ripton vs Westford vs Hyde Park
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 people working from home (20.6%).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Hyde Park has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
508Lowest |
2,290Highest |
513 |
| 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±8.6 about the VT average |
42.6±10.1Lowest 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% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest 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 |
$89,946±$10k 11% 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±$37k 8% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below 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±$232 40% above VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,306±$285Lowest 6% 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below 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% |
42.1%±47.5 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Westford 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| 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 → | 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.