Compare towns
Milton vs Ripton vs Brookline vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Milton | Ripton | Brookline | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,769Highest |
508Lowest |
531 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 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+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Milton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,536±$257Lowest 24% above VT |
— | $1,732±$232 40% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,610 11% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.6%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Westford 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 | #56 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Milton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Milton Senior High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.