Compare towns

Dover vs Ripton vs Brookfield

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Brookfield has the most kids (18.8% 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.

MeasureDoverRiptonBrookfield
People
Population
1,466
508Lowest
1,486Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+60%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
53.5±8.3Highest
24% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
47±5.9Lowest
9% above VT
Dover and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.2%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Brookfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.5%±6.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
45.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±2.9Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,313±$7kLowest
36% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$332,900±$55kLowest
5% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$339,300±$15k
7% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$670±$49Lowest
46% below VT
—
$975±$306Highest
21% below VT
Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,510Lowest
10% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,560
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.1%±17.2
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
6% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
37 minHighest
55% above VT
Work from home
23.2%±11.1
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
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.