Compare towns
Putney vs Danby vs Ripton vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Putney | Danby | Ripton | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622Highest |
1,133 |
508Lowest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Danby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 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 | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above 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 | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$794±$166 36% below VT |
— | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 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 | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.