Compare towns
Franklin vs Ripton vs Putney vs Brownington
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
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 | Ripton | Putney | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
508Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Brownington 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$75,556±$17kLowest 7% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Highest 28% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$745±$504 40% below VT |
| Franklin and Brownington 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Putney 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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 | 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.