Compare towns
Charleston vs Ripton vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brighton has the most kids (18.3% 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 | Charleston | Ripton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936 |
508Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Charleston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Highest 21% below VT |
— | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Brighton School District |
| 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.