Compare towns
Wilder vs Ripton vs Stratton vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Ripton | Stratton | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,087 |
508Lowest |
532 |
10,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7% VT: +2.8% |
— | +7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% 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 | $273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% 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 | $1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
— | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
| Hartford and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 9% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Hartford 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 | — | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.