Compare towns
Ripton vs Montgomery 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%).
Montgomery has the most affordable homes ($323k 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 | Montgomery | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,047 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| Montgomery and Strafford 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% |
52.8% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below 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 |
$323,200±$45kLowest 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 | — | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Montgomery 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 |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9Lowest 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.