Compare towns
Leicester vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Goshen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Leicester has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Goshen has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
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 | Leicester | Ripton | Strafford | Goshen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
508 |
1,372Highest |
142Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
58.9±8.3Highest 37% above VT |
| Goshen and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.6%±11.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.3%±11.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Goshen and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0%±10Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$56,250±$33kLowest 31% below VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,700±$107kLowest about the VT average |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$330,000±$115k 4% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
— |
| Strafford and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,240 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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 | 11.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±9.3Lowest 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.