Compare towns
Chester vs Ripton vs Windsor vs Weathersfield
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%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Weathersfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
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 | Windsor | Weathersfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
508Lowest |
3,554Highest |
2,856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
48.3±5.4 12% above VT |
| Chester and Weathersfield 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Weathersfield and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.4%±5.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
8.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$83,095±$12k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$252,700±$50k 20% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,401±$61Highest 14% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,540 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
80.3%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Weathersfield 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min 3% below VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.2%±14.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Weathersfield 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | #21 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Weathersfield School District |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.