Compare towns
Highgate vs Ripton vs Townshend
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
508Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Townshend 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,750±$29kLowest 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Ripton and Townshend 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 |
— | $1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.