Compare towns
Lowell vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Kirby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stratton has the most renters (26.7% rent).
Kirby has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Lowell | Ripton | Stratton | Kirby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
756 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
38.8±7.1 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
30%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Kirby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$54,792±$21kLowest 33% 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 | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$302,900±$63k 4% 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 | $945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,250±$326Highest about the VT average |
| Kirby and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,597 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% 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 |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 39% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±9.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Kirby and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lowell School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | — |
| 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.