Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Westminster vs Chittenden
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 the highest household income ($113k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Chittenden has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Westminster | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
508 |
497Lowest |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
50.8±6.3 18% above VT |
| Strafford and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Strafford 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford 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% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$106,250±$28k 31% 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 |
$313,600±$39kLowest about the VT average |
$346,800±$35k 10% 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±$789Highest 9% below VT |
— | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,346 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%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 |
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 26% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 |
| 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 | 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.