Compare towns
St. George vs Castleton vs Ripton vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. George has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | St. George | Castleton | Ripton | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 411Lowest |
4,453 |
508 |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.8±18.6 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| St. George and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±5.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±3.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,327±$11k 10% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15k 39% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $324,200±$32k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,337±$149 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
— | $1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,622 8% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 94.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. George and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 | 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.