Compare towns
Dummerston vs Orwell vs Ripton vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chesterfield has the most renters (16.4% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Orwell | Ripton | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,294 |
508Lowest |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield 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 | — | — | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Chesterfield School District |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.