Compare towns
Franklin vs Newfane vs Ripton vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most renters (25.3% rent).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Franklin | Newfane | Ripton | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
1,456 |
508Lowest |
1,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Newfane and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$244,600±$26kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
— | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.