Compare towns
Wheelock vs Ripton vs Chester vs Danville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Chester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Danville has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
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 | Wheelock | Ripton | Chester | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
508Lowest |
2,992Highest |
2,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+6.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
| Danville and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Danville and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
24.7%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$70,946±$7k 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$275,800±$43k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,358 14% 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% |
9.5%±11.4 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 | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Danville 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 | 6 photos → | 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.