Compare towns
Ripton vs Dalton vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($191k median).
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 | Dalton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
916 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$81,429±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dalton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.