Compare towns
Chester vs Erwin vs Ripton vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Erwin has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Erwin | Ripton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
7,965Highest |
508Lowest |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
43.8±2Lowest 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
52.2±6.2Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Erwin 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±6.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$88,333±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Erwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$223,700±$26kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$370,200±$46k 11% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Ludlow 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. |
$1,271±$136Highest 10% below U.S. |
— | $1,112±$151 21% below U.S. |
| Erwin and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,829Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,890 57% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.2%±25.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Erwin and Ripton 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 43% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow 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 | #431 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | CORNING CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.