Compare towns
Ripton vs Proctor 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%).
Proctor has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Proctor | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,794 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% 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% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Lowest 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Proctor and Chester 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 |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Proctor 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
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.