Compare towns
Highgate vs Putney vs Ripton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Highgate | Putney | Ripton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,622 |
508Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest 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+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Ripton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— | $891±$266 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.