Compare towns
Chester vs Hampton vs Ripton vs Springfield
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 population (median age 49.7).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Hampton | Ripton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
1,145 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
| Chester and Ripton 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Hampton 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.6%±3.7 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% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$192,400±$20k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
— | $963±$100 32% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Springfield 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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 | — | 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 | 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 |
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.