What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hero has the most people working from home (26.3%).

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Hero	Ripton
People
Population	1,586Highest	508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT	47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT
	South Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	South Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Ripton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	48%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT	$112,917±$15kLowest 39% above VT
	South Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT	$394,400±$61kLowest 25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$221 17% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,858Highest 56% above VT	$4,915Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4%
	Ripton and South Hero are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	90.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 4% above VT	24 minLowest about the VT average
Work from home	26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9%	17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Hero and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	South Hero School District	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.