Compare towns

Ripton vs Wallingford vs Sheldon

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%).
Wallingford has the most renters (17.5% rent).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureRiptonWallingfordSheldon
People
Population
508Lowest
2,286Highest
2,267
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
45.9±10.8
6% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
Ripton and Wallingford 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%
18.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Wallingford 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%
23.9%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$80,230±$15k
about the VT average
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$261,900±$44kLowest
17% below VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon and Wallingford 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
$4,355
14% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ripton and Wallingford 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%
7%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 min
6% above VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
Work from home
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
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 Mill River Unified Union School District #52 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.