Compare towns
Marshfield vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Marshfield | Ripton | Stratton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 470Lowest |
508 |
532 |
820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 | $178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% 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 | $1,125±$79Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 24% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Ripton 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 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.