Compare towns
Troy vs Strafford vs Ripton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Troy has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Troy | Strafford | Ripton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,749Highest |
1,372 |
508 |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.5±5.7Lowest 3% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below 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 | $233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
— | — |
| Strafford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,644 28% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 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 | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Troy School District | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None 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.