Compare towns
Poultney vs Ripton vs Rochester vs Stratton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Poultney | Ripton | Rochester | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033 |
508Lowest |
1,389Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.3±7.6Highest 24% above VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,536±$11kLowest 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above 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 | $196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
— | $929±$158 25% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,977 21% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.2%±12.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| High school 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.