Compare towns
Brandon vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Winhall
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 most affordable homes ($228k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k median).
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 | Brandon | Ripton | Stratton | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
| Brandon and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3 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+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% 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 | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
| Stratton and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Winhall and Ripton 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.