Compare towns
Sutton vs Ripton vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Sutton | Ripton | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,452Highest |
508Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
— | $960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Sutton | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Sutton High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.