Compare towns
Chester vs Ripton vs Weston
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%).
Weston has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Weston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
508Lowest |
685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
| Weston 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Weston and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
| Weston 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±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,375±$729Highest 11% above VT |
| Weston 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 |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Weston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Weston 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 | — |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.