Compare towns

Poultney 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

Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
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.

MeasurePoultneyRiptonSheffield
People
Population
1,033Highest
508Lowest
573
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
42±8
about the VT average
Ripton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.8%±5
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±6.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheffield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.1%±6.6
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.4%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
VT: 7%
5.9%±4.7Lowest
VT: 7%
Poultney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,536±$11k
13% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,600±$43k
38% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
—
$967±$79Highest
22% below VT
Sheffield and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,450
32% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$2,123Lowest
58% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4Lowest
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
11.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
6.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1987Highest
11 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
33% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
30 min
28% above VT
Work from home
11.3%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Poultney 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 #41 of 70 in VT — —
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.