Compare towns
Marshfield vs Mendon vs Ripton vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Marshfield | Mendon | Ripton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
1,113Highest |
508 |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Brookline and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.