Compare towns

Lynnfield vs Ripton vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynnfield has the most expensive homes ($918k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureLynnfieldRiptonChester
People
Population
13,064Highest
508Lowest
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±2.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
28%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.9%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$175,265±$23kHighest
117% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$917,600±$31kHighest
176% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,676±$219Highest
89% above U.S.
—
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
69.2%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lynnfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
27.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lynnfield 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 #27 of 282 in MA — #49 of 70 in VT
School district Lynnfield Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town Lynnfield High None in town Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0Highest
—
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

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.