Compare towns
Williamstown vs Ripton vs Sheldon vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Barre has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Williamstown | Ripton | Sheldon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
| Barre and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
— | $1,286±$379Lowest 4% above VT |
$1,524±$399 24% above VT |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.