Compare towns
Pittsford vs Ripton vs Chester vs Brandon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsford has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Pittsford | Ripton | Chester | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,892 |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
4,120Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±6.3Lowest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Pittsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 37% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,705±$7k 14% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$64,180±$12k 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,000±$33kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $781±$167Lowest 37% below VT |
— | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
| Brandon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,378Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 10.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Chester 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 | #54 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.9Highest |
| 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.