Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Winhall 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 kids (23% under 18).
Ripton has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
Winhall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+53.7%).
Chittenden has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Winhall | Chittenden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372Highest |
508Lowest |
752 |
1,318 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
13.8%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Winhall 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% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest 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% |
3.1%±4Lowest 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 |
$95,500±$23kLowest 18% above VT |
$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±$40k 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
$346,800±$35kLowest 10% above VT |
| Winhall and Strafford 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 |
— | $1,094±$732Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,125±$488Highest 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,567 30% above 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% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 13% above VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Winhall 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 | — | 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.