Compare towns
Chester vs Proctor vs Ripton vs Sheldon
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Proctor | Ripton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
1,794 |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
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.