Compare towns
Orange 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
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Ripton | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Highest |
508Lowest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Orange and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheffield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
— | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest 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 | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.