Compare towns
Highgate vs Ripton vs Reading vs Vernon
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 affordable homes ($281k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Reading | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Reading and Vernon 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Vernon School District |
| 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 | 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.