Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Highgate vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Brattleboro | Highgate | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
3,528 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Highest 13% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— |
| Brattleboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— |
| 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.