Compare towns
Sutton vs Strafford vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Sutton | Strafford | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 790 |
1,372Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% 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 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% 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 | $231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% 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±$789 9% below VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest 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 | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 26% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| 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 |
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.