Compare towns
Pawlet vs Stratton vs Ripton vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pawlet has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k 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 | Pawlet | Stratton | Ripton | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,480 |
532 |
508Lowest |
1,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Pawlet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.5% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% 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 | $266,200±$44k 16% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% 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 | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 40% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mettawee School District #84 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| 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.