Compare towns

Springfield vs Ripton vs Cornwall vs Chester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldRiptonCornwallChester
People
Population
9,084Highest
508Lowest
1,208
2,992
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.3%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
49.7±4.7
15% above VT
Cornwall and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.1%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
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+
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
33.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
5.1%±4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$66,571±$13k
18% below VT
$112,917±$15k
39% above VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below VT
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$192,400±$20kLowest
39% below VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$232,900±$44k
26% below VT
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$963±$100
22% below VT
—
$1,125±$206Highest
9% below VT
$960±$44Lowest
22% below VT
Cornwall and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,807
5% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$4,262Lowest
15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.6%±15.6
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
86.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
16% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
18% above VT
Work from home
15.1%±5.5
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
14%±6.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall 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 #64 of 70 in VT — — #49 of 70 in VT
School district River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town Springfield High School None in town None in town Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.3Highest
— —
8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.