Compare towns
Chester vs Lowell 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).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lowell | Ripton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,070 |
508Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin 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 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% 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±$44k 26% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,810Lowest 44% 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% |
26.3%±92.9 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 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 |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Lowell 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.