Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton vs Barnet vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
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 | Windham | Ripton | Barnet | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
508 |
61Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
62.2±45.8Highest 44% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Barnet and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31.1%±29.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
36.1%±44.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
59.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0%±23.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$57,917±$16kLowest 29% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$204,200±$38kLowest 36% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | — | $960±$44 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$2,950Lowest 41% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
47.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
— | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
55%±29Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet 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 | — | 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 | 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.