Compare towns
Ripton vs Plainfield vs Brattleboro
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%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% 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 | Plainfield | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,314 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Plainfield and Ripton 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brattleboro 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% 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 | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Plainfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.