Compare towns
Castleton vs Ripton vs Brattleboro vs Poultney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Castleton | Ripton | Brattleboro | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
508Lowest |
12,122Highest |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Ripton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
35.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$72,617±$6k 11% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | $1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$913±$84Lowest 26% below VT |
| Castleton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
71.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Ripton 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.5Highest |
| 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.