Compare towns

Strafford vs Ripton vs Vershire

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%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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.

MeasureStraffordRiptonVershire
People
Population
1,372Highest
508Lowest
842
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.9%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
45.7±9.3Lowest
6% above 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%
19.1%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Vershire 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%
22.2%±5
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Vershire 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%
31.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,833±$19k
36% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$71,618±$12kLowest
12% 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
$209,100±$55kLowest
34% 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
—
$1,117±$80Lowest
9% below VT
Strafford and Vershire 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
$4,640Lowest
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
77.8%±24.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
Vershire 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%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than 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
32 minHighest
38% above VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.3%±4.1Lowest
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 —
High school 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.