Compare towns
Randolph vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Braintree
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
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 | Randolph | Ripton | Sheldon | Braintree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173 5% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
| Sheldon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Ripton 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.