Compare towns

Marshfield vs Ripton vs Putney 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).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).

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.

MeasureMarshfieldRiptonPutneyBrookline
People
Population
470Lowest
508
2,622Highest
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
Ripton and Brookline 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Brookline 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%
48%
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
3.2%±1.6Lowest
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
$84,375±$20k
4% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
Ripton and Marshfield 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$290,700±$37k
8% 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
$1,125±$79
9% below VT
—
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,269Lowest
35% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$5,000
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney 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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.2%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
24% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
18 minLowest
24% below VT
28 min
21% above VT
Work from home
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brookline and Marshfield 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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school 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.