Compare towns

Whiting vs Sheldon vs Ripton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).

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.

MeasureWhitingSheldonRipton
People
Population
532
2,267Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±6.9
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
$78,533±$25kLowest
3% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Ripton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
$272,400±$61kLowest
14% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$519Lowest
about the VT average
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
—
Sheldon and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,227
16% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
89%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
25 minHighest
7% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
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

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.