Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Brookline vs Ripton vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Wardsboro | Brookline | Ripton | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
531 |
508Lowest |
1,026Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$309,700±$107k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224 20% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
— | $1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brookline and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school 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.