Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Ripton vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Franklin | Highgate | Ripton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
3,528 |
508Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Franklin 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.