Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Ripton vs Worcester
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%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
3,528Highest |
508Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest 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 |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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% |
19.5%±2.5 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% |
53%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% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
| Worcester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Franklin 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% |
5.9%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% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 22% above 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% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.