Compare towns
Plainfield vs Ripton vs Waterville vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 34.5).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Waterville has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Brookfield has the most kids (21.8% 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 | Plainfield | Ripton | Waterville | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,016 |
508Lowest |
680 |
2,150Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.2±6.1 6% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.9%±11.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$69,205±$9kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $155,100±$17k 53% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$152,800±$28kLowest 54% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 21% below U.S. |
$981±$75 31% below U.S. |
| Waterville and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$3,197 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.6%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±35.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
36 min 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.