Compare towns
Richford vs Ripton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Richford | Ripton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,467Highest |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39±3.6Lowest 10% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.4%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below 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 | $176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$66Lowest 6% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — |
| 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.