Compare towns
Waitsfield vs Brookline vs Ripton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Waitsfield | Brookline | Ripton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,918 |
531 |
508Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Brookline and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±30.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Waitsfield 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 | — | — | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.