Compare towns
Castleton vs Underhill vs Ripton vs Shaftsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Underhill | Ripton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,141 |
508Lowest |
3,607 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43±6.6 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Underhill and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— | — | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Castleton and Shaftsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Ripton 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 |
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.