Compare towns
Ripton vs Strafford vs Williamstown
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).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,372 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$94,418±$10kLowest 16% 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.