Compare towns
Castleton vs Ripton vs St. George vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
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 | Castleton | Ripton | St. George | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
508Lowest |
812 |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.7±13.4 4% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Ripton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.6%±7 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.9%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% 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 | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$376,800±$50k 19% 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 | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| St. George and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,514Highest 9% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| St. George 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 | 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.