Compare towns
Chittenden vs Putney vs Ripton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Putney | Ripton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.