Compare towns
Proctor vs Ripton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Proctor | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,794 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% 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 | 21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 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+ | 28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Proctor and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.