Compare towns
Brookline vs Williston vs Ripton vs Newfane
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 youngest population (median age 45.1).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Williston | Ripton | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531 |
10,144Highest |
508Lowest |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Ripton 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Newfane 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | $1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Newfane 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.