Compare towns

Whiting vs Ripton vs Strafford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.

MeasureWhitingRiptonStrafford
People
Population
532
508Lowest
1,372Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% 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
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4
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+
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38kLowest
12% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$110,833±$19k
36% 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
$280,400±$36kLowest
11% below VT
$394,400±$61k
25% above VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% 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
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
—
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,227Lowest
16% below VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
23 min
about the VT average
Work from home
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3
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 Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Strafford School District
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.