Compare towns
Ripton vs Ryegate vs Strafford vs Lincoln
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%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (18.8%).
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 | Ryegate | Strafford | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,059 |
1,372 |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate 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% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Lincoln 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% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$96,667±$18k 19% 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 |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$365,200±$30k 15% 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 | — | $908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Strafford and Ryegate 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,100 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Lincoln and Ripton 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 | Lincoln Town 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 | 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.