Compare towns
Chester vs Jay vs Ripton vs Berlin
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 renters (13.3% rent).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berlin has the most kids (16.6% 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 | Jay | Ripton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Jay and Berlin 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Berlin 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | — | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Berlin 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.