Compare towns
Windham vs Ripton vs Salem 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 kids (17.5% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Salem | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
508Lowest |
2,611 |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% 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%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Salem 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$232,900±$44k 30% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$960±$44Highest 32% below U.S. |
| Chester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$4,262 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem 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 | — | — | #376 of 484 in NY | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5Lowest |
8.7Highest |
| 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.