Compare towns
Ripton vs Williston vs Brookfield vs Middletown Springs
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%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.
| Measure | Ripton | Williston | Brookfield | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,486 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Williston 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$82,000±$12kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,560Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None 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.