Compare towns
Ripton vs Highgate vs Chester
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%).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Ripton | Highgate | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$960±$44Highest 22% below VT |
| Chester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest 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 | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest 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 | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
| 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.