Compare towns

Poultney vs Ripton vs Brookfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasurePoultneyRiptonBrookfield
People
Population
1,033
508Lowest
1,486Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
47±5.9
9% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.8%±5
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Brookfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4
VT: 21.4%
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+
38.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
45.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,536±$11kLowest
13% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,600±$43kLowest
38% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$339,300±$15k
7% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
—
$975±$306Highest
21% below VT
Brookfield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$4,560
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
33% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
37 minHighest
55% above VT
Work from home
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Ripton 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 #41 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.