Compare towns
Chester vs Hardwick vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Hardwick | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
2,965 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.1±7.4Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Hardwick 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%±5.9Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
— |
| Chester and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.