Compare towns
Berlin vs Chittenden vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Berlin | Chittenden | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,318 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Chittenden and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
— |
| Berlin and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,346Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Chittenden 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.