Compare towns
Danby vs Ripton vs Highgate vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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.
| Measure | Danby | Ripton | Highgate | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
508Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
— | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$996±$285Highest 19% below VT |
| Washington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.