Compare towns

Hampton vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Smithville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most renters (21.6% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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.

MeasureHamptonRiptonSheldonSmithville
People
Population
1,145
508Lowest
2,267Highest
1,525
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% above U.S.
43.1±3.2
11% above U.S.
Ripton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.7%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±5.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$78,533±$25k
about the U.S. average
$70,433±$7kLowest
13% below U.S.
Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$394,400±$61kHighest
19% above U.S.
$272,400±$61k
18% below U.S.
$173,200±$42k
48% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375
11% below U.S.
—
$1,286±$379Highest
9% below U.S.
$889±$186Lowest
37% below U.S.
Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$4,915Highest
58% above U.S.
$3,578
15% above U.S.
$4,254
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±31.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Smithville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
25 min
5% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
4.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.