Compare towns
Ripton vs St. George vs Strafford vs Reading
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%).
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
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 | St. George | Strafford | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
812 |
1,372Highest |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+17.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.7±13.4Lowest 4% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Reading 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% |
25.6%±7Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George 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% |
15.9%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
53.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±3.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,464±$34k 35% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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 |
$376,800±$50kLowest 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% 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 | — | $1,394±$132Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| St. George 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 |
$5,514 9% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
96%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Reading 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
91.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.6%±8.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| St. George and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.