Compare towns
Chittenden vs Ripton vs Pittsfield vs Brandon
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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (28.1%).
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 | Chittenden | Ripton | Pittsfield | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
508 |
391Lowest |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$65,852±$12k 19% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| 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 |
— | $1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Chittenden and Brandon 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43 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 | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.