Compare towns
Ripton vs Shelburne vs Northfield
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 people working from home (31.4%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
7,969Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| 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%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Shelburne and Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below 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 |
$274,400±$21kLowest 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Shelburne and Northfield 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.