Compare towns
Chittenden vs Plainfield vs Ripton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Chittenden | Plainfield | Ripton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
2,522Highest |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 31% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 71% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Plainfield School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.