Compare towns
Barton vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Barton | Ripton | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
508Lowest |
532 |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6k 24% below 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 | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school 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.