Compare towns
Fairfield vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Fairfield | Ripton | Sheldon | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,056±$441 14% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,816 4% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.