Compare towns
Dover vs Ripton vs Wilmington vs Stratton
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 most people working from home (23.2%).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Wilmington has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Stratton has the most kids (28% 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 | Dover | Ripton | Wilmington | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,466 |
508Lowest |
1,747Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+20.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
59.1±4.8Highest 37% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Wilmington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
9.6%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilmington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
46.8% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$70,000±$23k 14% below 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 | $332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$287,700±$16kLowest 9% below 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 | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
— | $1,106±$95 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Wilmington 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 |
$5,299Highest 5% above VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40.3%±23 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Wilmington 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% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Ripton 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | — |
| 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.