Compare towns
Ludlow vs Ripton vs Weston vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the most renters (28.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Weston has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Ludlow | Ripton | Weston | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,990 |
508Lowest |
685 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.2±6.2 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
60.5±7Highest 40% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Weston and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.2%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Weston and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.1%±2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
44.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±6.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,885±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,000±$20kHighest 42% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Weston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,200±$46k 17% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$537,700±$77kHighest 70% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$151 10% below VT |
— | $1,375±$729Highest 11% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Weston and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,890 about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,076Highest 40% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.2%±25.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.2%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Weston and Ludlow 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 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 | 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 | 12 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.