Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Cornwall vs South Hero
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | Strafford | Ripton | Cornwall | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
508Lowest |
1,208 |
1,586Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.8%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Cornwall 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kLowest 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$458,000±$49k 45% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149 42% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | South Hero School District |
| 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 | 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.