Compare towns
Ripton vs Elmore 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%).
Elmore has the most affordable homes ($316k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Ripton | Elmore | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
964 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above 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% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Strafford 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$98,750±$24kLowest 22% 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 |
$315,800±$47kLowest 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 | — | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Elmore and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Strafford School District |
| 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 |
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.