Compare towns
Poultney vs Ripton vs Sheffield vs Whiting
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 the most people working from home (17.2%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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.
| Measure | Poultney | Ripton | Sheffield | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,033Highest |
508Lowest |
573 |
532 |
| 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 |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| 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%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Sheffield 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%±4 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%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% |
6.2%±4 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$113Lowest 30% below VT |
— | $967±$79 22% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Sheffield 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 |
$4,227 16% 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% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% 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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 33% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below 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% |
10%±5.4 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.