Compare towns
Lyndon vs Ripton vs Chester vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyndon has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Kirby has the most kids (30% 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 | Lyndon | Ripton | Chester | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,590Highest |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
756 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.4±6.7 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
38.8±7.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Chester and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1Lowest 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+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,786±$6k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$21kLowest 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% below VT |
| Ripton and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$123 11% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,846Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,597 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.7%±15.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Lyndon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±3.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby 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 | #44 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.