Compare towns
Chester vs Ripton vs Whitingham
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%).
Whitingham has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,992Highest |
508Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.4±7.1Lowest 8% above 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whitingham 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
— | $673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Chester 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.