Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheldon vs Berkshire
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%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Sheldon | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$244,600±$26kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.