Compare towns
Sheldon vs Whiting vs Ripton
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 affordable homes ($272k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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 | Whiting | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,267Highest |
532 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Sheldon 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% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,204±$519Lowest about the VT average |
— |
| Sheldon and Whiting 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.