Compare towns
Lowell vs Ripton vs Kirby vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the youngest population (median age 32.9).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Kirby has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Brownington has the most renters (19% rent).
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 | Lowell | Ripton | Kirby | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070 |
508Lowest |
756 |
1,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.8±7.1 10% 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 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
$75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
$193,800±$40k 39% below VT |
| Ripton and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
— | $1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Kirby and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,597 9% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
25%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
34 min 43% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lowell School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle 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 | 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.