Compare towns
Ripton vs Arlington vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Ripton | Arlington | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,598Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$102,308±$11kLowest 26% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$318,500±$59kLowest about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Arlington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,549Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington 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 | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Arlington School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.