Compare towns
Grafton vs Randolph vs Ripton
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).
Randolph has the most kids (17.3% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Randolph | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666 |
4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% 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% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Ripton 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% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.1%±5Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
$278,700±$38kLowest 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above 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 |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
— |
| Grafton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,843 4% below VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 4% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Grafton 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Athens Grafton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.