Compare towns
Chester vs Jamaica 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 most affordable homes ($233k median).
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | Jamaica | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
882 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Jamaica and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Jamaica 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% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,219±$19k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$347,800±$50k 10% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
— |
| Chester and Jamaica 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 |
$4,773 5% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica 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 | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.