Compare towns
Chittenden vs Putney vs Ripton vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).
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 | Putney | Ripton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
2,622Highest |
508 |
391Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
| Pittsfield 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Chittenden 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pittsfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
| 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 10% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
| 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 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,035±$140 16% below VT |
| Chittenden and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346Highest 6% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,181 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.