Compare towns
Tunbridge vs Ripton vs Mendon vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k 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 | Tunbridge | Ripton | Mendon | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,253Highest |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
1,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.4±10.5 24% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.9% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,464±$26k 10% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,300±$23k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,346±$128 9% above VT |
— | $1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,645 8% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.7%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | First Branch Unified School District #82 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.