Compare towns
Barnard vs Calais vs Ripton vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k 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 | Barnard | Calais | Ripton | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,713 |
508Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
— | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Calais 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 | — | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.