Compare towns
Poultney vs Ripton vs Plainfield vs Berkshire
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 renters (43.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Berkshire has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Poultney | Ripton | Plainfield | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033 |
508Lowest |
1,314 |
1,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
31.6±6.9 27% below VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 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±$11k 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 33% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Plainfield 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.