Compare towns
Barnard vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Barnard | Ripton | Stratton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
508Lowest |
532 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
| Barnard and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
— | $1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.