Compare towns
Brandon vs Chester vs Jericho vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the most renters (15.7% rent).
Jericho has the most people working from home (21.8%).
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 | Brandon | Chester | Jericho | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
2,992 |
5,114Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Jericho and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
| Jericho and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
8.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| 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.