Compare towns
Strafford vs Chester vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Strafford | Chester | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
2,992Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% 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 | $1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
— |
| Strafford and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest 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 | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.