Compare towns
Chester vs Ripton vs Springfield vs Underhill
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% 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 | Springfield | Underhill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
3,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
| Ripton and Underhill 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
| Underhill 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 |
— | $963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
— |
| Springfield 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #2 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 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| 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.