Compare towns
Chittenden vs Ripton vs Wallingford vs North Hero
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
North Hero has the most expensive homes ($451k median).
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 | Wallingford | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
508Lowest |
2,286Highest |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero 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% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and North Hero 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% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and North Hero 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% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
$102,143±$24k 26% above 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±$61k 25% above VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
| North Hero 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 |
— | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero and Chittenden 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 |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,132 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| North Hero 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and North Hero 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| 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.