Compare towns
Sheffield vs Jay vs Ripton vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% 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.
| Measure | Sheffield | Jay | Ripton | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 573 |
471Lowest |
508 |
1,059Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
— | — | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.