Compare towns
Highgate vs Middlebury vs Ripton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 23.7).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Middlebury is a college town. 40.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Highgate | Middlebury | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
7,220Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.9% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
23.7±1.3Lowest 45% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest 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+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
40.9%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$86,250±$18k 6% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$417,400±$31kHighest 32% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,201±$120Highest about the VT average |
— |
| Middlebury and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,795Highest 35% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.6%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → | 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.