Compare towns
Ripton vs South Hero 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%).
South Hero has the most people working from home (26.3%).
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 | South Hero | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,586Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| South Hero 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% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and South Hero 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% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and South Hero 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$110,833±$19kLowest 36% above VT |
| South Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| South Hero 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 |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest 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% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero 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 | South Hero School District | 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.