Compare towns
Irasburg vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Irasburg has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k 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.
| Measure | Irasburg | Ripton | Sheldon | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,384 |
508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.3±5.3Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Ripton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,534±$13k 21% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,063±$86 14% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Sheldon and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,966 21% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17%±28.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 3% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle 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 | 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.