Compare towns
Starksboro vs Ripton vs Putney vs Sunderland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Starksboro has the most kids (26.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sunderland has the most homeowners (91.9%).
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 | Starksboro | Ripton | Putney | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,939 |
508Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,269 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±4.8 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
40.8±2.8 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.6%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±3.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,188±$15k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$88,523±$16k 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $287,700±$42kLowest 9% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$300,000±$43k 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$91 6% above VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,413±$242Highest 15% above VT |
| Sunderland and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,136Lowest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.5%±61.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Starksboro and Ripton 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.