Compare towns
Dover vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Dover | Ripton | Stratton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
508Lowest |
532 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below 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 | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$287,200±$79kLowest 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Stratton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.