Compare towns
Ripton vs Windham 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%).
Windham has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Windham | Strafford | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,432Highest |
1,372 |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 23% above U.S. |
56.5±5.1Highest 45% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
| Windham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2 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%±7.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$76,477±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$82,000±$12k about the U.S. 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 19% above U.S. |
$315,600±$74k 5% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% 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 | — | $850±$295Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,208±$438Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Middletown Springs and Strafford 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. |
$3,363Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,595 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.9%±35.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Windham 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 | 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 | 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.