Compare towns
Castleton vs Williamstown 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).
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 | Williamstown | Ripton | Shaftsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,579 |
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±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.5%±6.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Shaftsbury and Williamstown 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%±3.9Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 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 |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,071±$24k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$267,300±$24k 16% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— | $1,079±$54Lowest 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,015 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
52.7%±36Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 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 |
23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 5% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.2%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #62 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.