Compare towns
Chester vs Highgate vs Ripton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Chester | Highgate | Ripton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,992 |
3,528Highest |
508Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $960±$44 22% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,262 15% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Highgate 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7Lowest |
9.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.