Compare towns
Ripton vs Strafford vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Strafford | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
4,306Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Lowest 19% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Middletown Springs 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Middletown Springs 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Strafford 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±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$262,200±$24kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,208±$438Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 58% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,595Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.