Compare towns
Ripton vs Chester vs Wheelock
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 renters (13.3% rent).
Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% 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 | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Chester 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% |
29.4%±4.7Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Chester 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.