Compare towns
Highgate vs Ripton vs Vernon vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% 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 | Vernon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
508Lowest |
2,709 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Ripton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Vernon School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.