Compare towns

Brownington vs Derby vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brownington has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureBrowningtonDerbyRipton
People
Population
1,144
4,537Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.5±4.5Lowest
6% below VT
51.6±2.1Highest
20% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
Derby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.1%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.7%±3.6
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
11.7%±2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
36.8%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,556±$17kLowest
7% below VT
$80,250±$8k
about the VT average
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$193,800±$40kLowest
39% below VT
$225,000±$10k
29% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$745±$504Lowest
40% below VT
$1,096±$118Highest
11% below VT
—
Derby and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,912
22% below VT
$3,449Lowest
32% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
78.5%±29.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
45.8%±18.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Brownington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
21.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
9 yrs newer than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
32 min
38% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
6%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Derby 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 — #52 of 70 in VT —
School district Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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

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.