Compare towns
Stratton vs 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
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
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 | Stratton | Strafford | Ripton | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532 |
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 | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 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 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 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+ | 33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above 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±$50k 26% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Strafford and Stratton 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 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 | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 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 | 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.