Compare towns
Chester vs Dover vs Ripton vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Dover | Ripton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,466 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
| Springfield and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| 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.