Compare towns
Ripton vs Reading vs Chester vs St. George
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%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
St. George has the most kids (25.6% 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 | Reading | Chester | St. George |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
699 |
2,992Highest |
812 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
44.7±13.4Lowest 4% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
| Ripton and St. George 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% above VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
| St. George and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$5,514 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.