Compare towns
Highgate vs Ripton vs Hampton vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Ripton | Hampton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
508Lowest |
1,145 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$73,796±$8kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,915Highest 58% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.