Compare towns

Poultney vs Sheldon vs Ripton

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 most renters (43.3% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasurePoultneySheldonRipton
People
Population
1,033
2,267Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-33.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
Ripton and Sheldon 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%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon 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%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
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%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3
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±$11kLowest
13% below VT
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$196,600±$43kLowest
38% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
—
Sheldon and Poultney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
$3,578
29% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.2%±12.4
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Poultney 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%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
33% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
11.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Sheldon 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 — Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school 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.