Compare towns

Sheffield vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Coventry

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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Coventry has the most kids (20.2% 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.

MeasureSheffieldWorcesterRiptonCoventry
People
Population
573
831
508Lowest
917Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8Lowest
about the VT average
47±2.7
9% above VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
45.2±5.2
5% above VT
Ripton and Worcester 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%
12.8%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.2%±4.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
Coventry 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%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.5%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Coventry 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%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$59,342±$3k
27% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$171,900±$50kLowest
46% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$197,900±$55k
37% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$967±$79
22% below VT
$1,023±$136Highest
17% below VT
—
$755±$108Lowest
39% below VT
Worcester and Sheffield 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
$4,421
12% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$2,375
53% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.5%±41.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
1.5%±27.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Sheffield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.6%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
19.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987
11 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
28% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
6.1%±2.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
8.6%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Worcester 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Coventry School District
High school in town None 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.