Compare towns

Troy vs Mendon vs Ripton vs Sheldon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureTroyMendonRiptonSheldon
People
Population
1,749
1,113
508Lowest
2,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.5±5.7
3% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% below VT
Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±3.9
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.7%±3
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.2%
VT: 43.8%
49.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.4
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,938±$11k
8% above VT
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$233,200±$21kLowest
26% below VT
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$646±$323Lowest
48% below VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
—
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
Sheldon and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,644
28% below VT
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
$4,915
about the VT average
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.8%±26.3
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
about the VT average
17 minLowest
28% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
25 minHighest
7% above VT
Work from home
7.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Troy School District — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
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.