Compare towns
Charlemont vs Ripton vs East Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlemont has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
East Brookfield has the most kids (15.3% under 18).
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 | Charlemont | Ripton | East Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,118 |
508Lowest |
2,166Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
52.1±6.4 34% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| East Brookfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 41.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlemont and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$81,042±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $305,500±$52kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$381,200±$30k 15% above U.S. |
| Ripton and East Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$126Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,142±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
| East Brookfield and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,430 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.1%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.2%±39.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlemont and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Hawlemont | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.