Compare towns

Ripton vs Wolcott vs Brookfield

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%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).

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.

MeasureRiptonWolcottBrookfield
People
Population
508Lowest
1,507Highest
1,486
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
-3.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
42.4±5.9Lowest
about the VT average
47±5.9
9% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield 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%
22.8%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
Wolcott and Brookfield 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%
11.1%±2.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.4
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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
31.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.2%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$70,259±$10kLowest
13% below VT
$98,500±$23k
21% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield 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
$221,300±$23kLowest
30% below VT
$339,300±$15k
7% above VT
Ripton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,059±$118Highest
14% below VT
$975±$306Lowest
21% below VT
Wolcott and Brookfield 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
$3,930Lowest
22% below VT
$4,560
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
75.7%±21.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.4%±27.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wolcott and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
9.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
6.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
13% above VT
37 minHighest
55% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±4.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brookfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Wolcott School District Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
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

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.