Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheldon vs Smithville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Smithville has the most affordable homes ($173k 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 | Sheldon | Smithville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,525 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.1±3.2 11% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$70,433±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 19% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$173,200±$42kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,254 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±31.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithville and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.