Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs North 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%).
North Hero has the most homeowners (96.3%).
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 | North Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
508Lowest |
1,263 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
54.2±6.7Highest 26% above VT |
| North 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% |
16.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and North Hero 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% |
27.3%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and North 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.5%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$102,143±$24kLowest 26% 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±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$451,400±$66kHighest 43% above VT |
| North Hero 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 |
— | $1,556±$360Highest 26% above VT |
| North Hero and Strafford 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 |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,132 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±98.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| North Hero and Ripton 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.4%±8.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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 | Champlain Islands Unified Union School District #66 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.