Compare towns
Chittenden vs Reading vs Ripton vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318Highest |
699 |
508 |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen 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 VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
42.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$330,000±$115kLowest 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | — |
| Chittenden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,240 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 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.



