Compare towns
Ripton vs Cornwall vs Chester
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%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Cornwall | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,208 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Lowest 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+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Cornwall 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None 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.