Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Proctor vs Mendon
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 expensive homes ($431k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Proctor | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
508Lowest |
1,794Highest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon 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% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% 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 |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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±$789 9% below VT |
— | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,032Lowest 20% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest 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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Ripton 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.