Compare towns
Fair Haven vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Fair Haven | Ripton | Sheldon | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,724 |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
2,804Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17k 21% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$852±$87 31% below VT |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,865 23% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.9%±20.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 31% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.