Compare towns
Grafton vs Putney vs Ripton vs Rockingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k median).
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 | Grafton | Putney | Ripton | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666 |
2,622 |
508Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | $76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Ripton and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $1,062±$101 14% below VT |
| Grafton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rockingham 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.