Compare towns
Ripton vs Shelburne vs Hubbardton vs Reading
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).
Hubbardton has the most affordable homes ($294k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Hubbardton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
7,969Highest |
831 |
699 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
50.9±3.2 18% above VT |
48±13.6 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Shelburne 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%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Hubbardton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
32.1%±10.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hubbardton and Ripton 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% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$102,321±$18k 26% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% 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 |
$293,800±$42kLowest 7% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,708±$259Highest 38% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
| Hubbardton and Shelburne 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 |
$5,284 5% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.6%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Hubbardton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
24%±17.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Hubbardton 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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 | 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.