Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Fair Haven 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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Dummerston | Ripton | Fair Haven | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
508Lowest |
2,724 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below 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±$22k about the U.S. average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below 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 |
— | $830±$116Lowest 41% 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.