Compare towns
Clarendon vs Ripton vs Chester vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wallingford has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Clarendon | Ripton | Chester | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,460 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$305Highest 11% below VT |
— | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Chester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Mill River Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.