Compare towns
Wheelock vs Ripton vs Hardwick vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hardwick has the most renters (23.6% rent).
Sheffield has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Wheelock | Ripton | Hardwick | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
508Lowest |
2,965Highest |
573 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$92,297±$17k 14% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
| Ripton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$967±$79Highest 22% below VT |
| Sheffield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 42% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.