Compare towns
Ripton vs Brandon vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Ripton | Brandon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,120Highest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Brandon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.