Compare towns
Orwell vs Stratton vs Ripton vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Orwell | Stratton | Ripton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,294Highest |
532 |
508Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% 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 | $335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% 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 | $1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
| Orange and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914 22% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.