Compare towns

Coventry vs Jay vs Ripton vs Sheffield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Coventry has the most kids (20.2% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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.

MeasureCoventryJayRiptonSheffield
People
Population
917Highest
471Lowest
508
573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±5.2
5% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.2%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6
VT: 17.9%
Coventry and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.5%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Coventry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.5
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
5.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,342±$3k
27% below VT
$74,792±$25k
8% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$197,900±$55k
37% below VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$755±$108Lowest
39% below VT
— —
$967±$79Highest
22% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,375
53% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
1.5%±27.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993
17 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
53% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 min
28% above VT
Work from home
8.6%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Coventry School District Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
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.