Compare towns
Chittenden vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Chittenden | Exeter | Ripton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
913 |
508Lowest |
1,389Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 32% above U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$72,676±$8kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 4% above U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
— | $929±$158 34% below U.S. |
| Chittenden and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,977 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.