Compare towns
Strafford vs Windham vs Ripton vs Sharon
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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Windham | Ripton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
594 |
508Lowest |
1,577Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sharon 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sharon 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$346,700±$37kLowest 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±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— | — | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon 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 |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | Sharon School District |
| 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.