Compare towns
Sandgate vs Ripton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Chester has the most kids (14.1% 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 | Sandgate | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
508 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Sandgate and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chester and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest 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 | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Ripton 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.