Compare towns
Calais vs Shelburne vs Ripton vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Calais | Shelburne | Ripton | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
7,969Highest |
508Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% 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 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% 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 | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
— | $1,392±$126Lowest 13% 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 | $6,586 31% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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 | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Dummerston 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.