Compare towns
Windham vs Brookline vs Castleton vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Windham | Brookline | Castleton | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
531 |
4,453Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.