Compare towns
Ripton vs Sheldon vs Highgate vs Middlebury
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Middlebury has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sheldon | Highgate | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
2,267 |
3,528 |
9,175Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Ripton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Highgate 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 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+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$86,169±$16k 6% above VT |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
| Middlebury and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,156±$113 6% below VT |
| Sheldon and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Middlebury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.