Compare towns
Stratton vs Ripton vs Poultney vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Poultney has the most affordable homes ($197k median).
Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Stratton | Ripton | Poultney | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
508Lowest |
1,033Highest |
820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±6.6 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+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$196,600±$43kLowest 38% below VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Stratton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
— | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,450Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,345 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4 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 | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 33% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Wardsboro 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 |
| 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.