Compare towns
Waterville vs Stratton vs Ripton vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Waterville | Stratton | Ripton | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680 |
532 |
508Lowest |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
31.5±4.1 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Waterville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% 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 | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% 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 | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
— | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Stratton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Johnson 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 | — | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.