Compare towns
Halifax vs Ripton vs Chester vs Whitingham
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).
Whitingham has the most renters (14.8% 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 | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1% 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 |
46.4±7.1 8% above 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham 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%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest 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% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
— | $960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Chester and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax 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% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.2%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 |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% 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% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.