Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheffield vs Calais
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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Ripton | Sheffield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
573 |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Sheffield 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% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Sheffield 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Sheffield 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 |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ripton 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% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 |
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.