Compare towns
Ripton vs Danby 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%).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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 | Danby | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,133 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Danby 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% |
14.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Danby 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% |
24.3%±2.6Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
| Chester and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Danby 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% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.