Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ripton vs Jay vs Enosburgh
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).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Jay | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
508 |
471Lowest |
2,804Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Jay and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
— | — | $852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| 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.