Compare towns
Berkshire vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Berkshire | Ripton | Sheldon | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,745 |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
— | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.