Compare towns
Shelburne vs Ripton vs Williston vs Richmond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Richmond has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Shelburne | Ripton | Williston | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,969 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Richmond and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Williston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Richmond 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 | #8 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.