Compare towns

Whitingham vs Ripton vs Sharon

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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.

MeasureWhitinghamRiptonSharon
People
Population
1,368
508Lowest
1,577Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±7.1
8% above VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
45.6±7.7Lowest
6% above VT
Ripton and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.5
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Sharon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.1%±2.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1
VT: 21.4%
25.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Whitingham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±1.9
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$84,375±$17k
4% above VT
Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$262,300±$30kLowest
17% below VT
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$346,700±$37k
10% above VT
Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$673±$150Lowest
45% below VT
—
$1,386±$155Highest
12% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,055
about the VT average
$4,915Lowest
about the VT average
$5,903Highest
17% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
62.7%±47.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100
VT: 48.4%
19.8%±17.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Whitingham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
62% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
26 min
12% above VT
Work from home
9.7%±5.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.7%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Sharon School District
High school in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
7.8
— —
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.