Compare towns

Windham vs Newfields 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

Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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.

MeasureWindhamNewfieldsRiptonChester
People
Population
594
2,023
508Lowest
2,992Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% 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
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
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+
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
Ripton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
—
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,951
91% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Windham 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 — Newfields School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town — None 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 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.