Compare towns
Ripton vs Chester vs Calais vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Ripton | Chester | Calais | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,713 |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±3.6 6% 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 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 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+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Lincoln 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.