Compare towns
Chester vs Ripton vs Newfane vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Ripton | Newfane | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
508Lowest |
1,456 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Newfane and Brandon 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Newfane and Brandon 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,174Highest about the VT average |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Newfane 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| 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.