Compare towns
Barton vs Chester vs Ripton vs North Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
North Troy has the most kids (31.6% under 18).
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 | Barton | Chester | Ripton | North Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
2,992Highest |
508 |
506Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
34.1±4.4Lowest 21% below VT |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$50,417±$5k 38% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30k 54% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 38% below VT |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
— | $597±$179Lowest 52% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,641Lowest 48% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±30.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
21.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| North Troy and Ripton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.