Compare towns
Ripton vs Shelburne 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%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Shelburne | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
7,969Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Shelburne 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% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$390,300±$36kLowest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,408±$392Lowest 14% above VT |
| Shelburne and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Calais 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.