Compare towns
Highgate vs Ripton vs Wallingford vs Sheldon
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Wallingford | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
508Lowest |
2,286 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Wallingford 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% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 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 |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.