Compare towns
Ripton vs Strafford vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Belvidere has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
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 | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508 |
1,372Highest |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Belvidere 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%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$81,563±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% below VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| High school 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.