Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Fair Haven
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%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372 |
508Lowest |
2,724Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Ripton 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% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below 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 |
— | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Strafford and Fair Haven 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fair Haven 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.