Compare towns
Chester vs Mount Tabor vs Ripton vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Mount Tabor | Ripton | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
304Lowest |
508 |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Mount Tabor 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% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor 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% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
— | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— | $963±$100 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — | None in town | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 14.3Highest |
| 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.