Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Ripton vs Brookline vs Townshend
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%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Ripton | Brookline | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 820 |
508Lowest |
531 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Wardsboro 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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 |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% 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 | $4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Wardsboro 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Brookline 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 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.