Compare towns

Putney vs Ripton vs Panton 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Panton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k 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.

MeasurePutneyRiptonPantonBrookline
People
Population
2,622Highest
508Lowest
690
531
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
42.7±3.8
about the VT average
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
Ripton and Brookline 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
Panton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
16.7%±2.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.6%±4.2
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+
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
35.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.3Lowest
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±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$86,667±$10k
7% above VT
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$438,000±$40kHighest
38% above VT
$290,700±$37kLowest
8% below VT
Panton and Ripton 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
—
$1,410±$130
14% above VT
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
Brookline and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
5% above VT
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$6,695Highest
33% above VT
$5,000
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
61%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
47.8%±94.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Panton and Putney 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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
24% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
26 min
11% above VT
28 minHighest
21% above VT
Work from home
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
Panton and Brookline 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — —
High school in town None in town None in town — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.