Compare towns
Ripton vs Chester vs Townshend
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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Chester 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%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Townshend 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.