Compare towns
Ripton vs Strafford vs Waterville
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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,372Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Strafford and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest 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% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% 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±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Strafford and Waterville 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 |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older 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% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.