Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Wardsboro
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%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k 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 | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
508Lowest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Wardsboro 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% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% 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 |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% 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±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro 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 |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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.