Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Sheldon | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,267 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.