Compare towns
Chittenden vs Ripton vs Windsor vs Mendon
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%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Windsor | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
508Lowest |
2,060Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Mendon 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% |
29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Windsor 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% |
40%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
— | $1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| High school 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.