Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ripton vs Waitsfield 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%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
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 | Waitsfield | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
508Lowest |
1,918 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% 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. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
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%±6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±3 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. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% 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 |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield and Ripton 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 |
— | $1,200±$821Lowest 15% 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 | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% 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% |
47.4%±30.6 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as 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. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Waitsfield 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | 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.