Compare towns
Chester vs Clarendon vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Chester | Clarendon | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,460 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,096±$305Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Mill River Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.4Highest |
— |
| 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.