Compare towns
Berlin vs Hyde Park vs Ripton vs Chester
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Hyde Park has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
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 | Hyde Park | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
513 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Berlin 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% |
16.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 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+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$89,946±$10k 11% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Hyde Park are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Hyde Park and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Hyde Park 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Chester 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 | #59 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| 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.