Compare towns
Monroe vs Ripton vs Strafford vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the most renters (11.4% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Groton has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Monroe | Ripton | Strafford | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 786 |
508 |
1,372Highest |
507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.1±16.2 31% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$85,625±$21kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$269,000±$45kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$2,667±$295Highest 89% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$2,873 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±83.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Monroe School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.