Compare towns
Chester vs Ripton vs Sutton vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k median).
Brandon has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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 | Sutton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
508Lowest |
9,452Highest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Brandon and Chester 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$64,180±$12k 21% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
— | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 37% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | — | #105 of 282 in MA | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Sutton | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Sutton High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.