Compare towns
Belvidere vs Brandon vs Ripton vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Belvidere | Brandon | Ripton | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
4,120Highest |
508 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Brandon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% 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 | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Brandon 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.