Compare towns
Monkton vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Starksboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monkton has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Starksboro has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Monkton | Ripton | Strafford | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,999Highest |
508Lowest |
1,372 |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$82,188±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Monkton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,301±$120 5% above VT |
— | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,306±$91Highest 6% above VT |
| Starksboro and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,887 17% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
29 minHighest 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.