Compare towns
Calais vs Stratton vs Ripton vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k 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 | Calais | Stratton | Ripton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Highest |
532 |
508Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±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 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3 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+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 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+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% 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 | $390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% 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 | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
— | $1,372±$80 11% 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 | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 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 | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.