What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bradford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bradford	Ripton
People
Population	1,565Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.3±5.2Highest 29% above U.S.	47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S.
	Bradford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bradford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ripton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	48%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,015±$21kLowest 34% above U.S.	$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Ripton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,700±$38kLowest about the U.S. average	$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S.
	Ripton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,507±$206 7% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,307Highest 102% above U.S.	$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ripton and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bradford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.