Compare towns
Strafford vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% 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 | Strafford | Ripton | Sheldon | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,372 |
508Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Strafford and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Strafford School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None 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.