Compare towns
Sheffield vs Walden vs Ripton vs Barton
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).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barton has the most kids (20.7% 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.
| Measure | Sheffield | Walden | Ripton | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 573 |
1,037 |
508Lowest |
2,815Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.9±6.5 4% above VT |
| Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,250±$16k 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$201,200±$28k 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
— | $793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Sheffield and Walden 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Walden 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.