Compare towns
Chester vs Cornish vs Ripton vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Chester | Cornish | Ripton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,816 |
508Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1 29% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brandon and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Cornish School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.