Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Jay vs Warren
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%).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).
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 | Jay | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
508 |
471Lowest |
1,585Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT |
| Warren and Jay 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%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.1%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Warren 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,905±$16k 7% 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±$40k 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT |
| Warren and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— | — | $1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT |
| Warren 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,284Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
32.3%±26.6Lowest 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
15.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Warren and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.