Compare towns
Chester vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Ludlow
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 most affordable homes ($233k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Ludlow has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Strafford | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
1,990 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
52.2±6.2Highest 21% above VT |
| Ludlow and Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,112±$151 10% below VT |
| Strafford and Ludlow 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,890 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Ludlow 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.3%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.