Compare towns
Chester vs Olean vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Olean has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Olean | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992 |
13,738Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.