Compare towns
Ripton vs Wallingford vs Strafford
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%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% 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 | Wallingford | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,286Highest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above 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% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wallingford 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% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
$110,833±$19k 36% 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 |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% 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 | — | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Wallingford 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 |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Strafford School District |
| 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.