Compare towns
Ripton vs Royalton vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Sharon has the most kids (21% 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 | Ripton | Royalton | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,752Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sharon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$103,938±$24k 28% above VT |
$84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,040±$391Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$4,675Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Royalton 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | White River Unified School District #79 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.