Compare towns
Chittenden vs Jay vs Ripton vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cornwall has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Chittenden | Jay | Ripton | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Jay and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488 9% below VT |
— | — | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Cornwall 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.