Compare towns
North Hero vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Jamaica
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hero has the most expensive homes ($451k median).
Ripton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Jamaica has the most people working from home (23.2%).
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 | North Hero | Ripton | Stratton | Jamaica |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,263Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
882 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.2±6.7 26% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
55.1±5.5Highest 28% above VT |
| Jamaica and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.7%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and North Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30%±8.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Jamaica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $102,143±$24k 26% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$79,219±$19kLowest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$347,800±$50kLowest 10% above VT |
| North Hero and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$870±$464Lowest 29% below VT |
| North Hero and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,132Highest about the VT average |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$4,773 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±98.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| North Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.4%±8.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jamaica and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 |
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.