Compare towns
Sheldon vs Randolph vs Ripton vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Sheldon | Randolph | Ripton | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
4,843Highest |
508Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
| Ripton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Ripton and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
— | $646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Sheldon and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Troy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— | — |
| 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.