Compare towns
Halifax vs Ripton vs Chester vs Craftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Craftsbury has the most renters (17.5% 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 | Halifax | Ripton | Chester | Craftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,352 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+11.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
41.5±4.6 4% below VT |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.2 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+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
12.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$83,672±$16k 3% above VT |
| Ripton and Craftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$270,500±$44k 15% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
— | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,091±$184Highest 12% below VT |
| Craftsbury and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,164Lowest 17% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.9%±29.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Ripton 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.5%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Halifax School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.