Compare towns
Ripton vs Stratton 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 the most people working from home (17.2%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Stratton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
532 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Stratton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school 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.