Compare towns
Chester vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Worcester | Ripton | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
831 |
508Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
— | $1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
| Brandon and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
— | — | 9.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.