Compare towns
Castleton vs Colrain vs Ripton vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Shaftsbury has the most kids (26.5% 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 | Castleton | Colrain | Ripton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,627 |
508Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
43±6.6 11% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shaftsbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$86,071±$24k 7% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$267,300±$24k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$4,015 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.7%±36 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Colrain 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.