Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ripton vs Enosburgh vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% 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 | Sheldon | Ripton | Enosburgh | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
508Lowest |
2,804Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Fairfield 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | $852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Enosburgh 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.