Compare towns
Chittenden vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Stratton
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 affordable homes ($347k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Chittenden | Ripton | Strafford | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,318 |
508Lowest |
1,372Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Strafford 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,250±$28kLowest 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% 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 | $346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
| Strafford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,346 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.8%±55.7 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | — |
| 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.