Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheffield vs Sutton vs Waterville
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).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Sheffield | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
573 |
790Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Ripton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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%±4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sutton 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% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
— | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
30 min 28% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sutton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.