Compare towns
Chester vs Ludlow 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).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Ludlow | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,990 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Ludlow 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% |
14.1%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Ripton 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,112±$151Highest 10% below VT |
— |
| Ludlow and Chester 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 |
$4,890 about the VT average |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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 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.