Compare towns
Washington vs Ripton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% 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 | Washington | Ripton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056 |
508Lowest |
1,223Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 31% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8k 19% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
— | $1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT |
| Chelsea and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,762 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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 |
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.