Compare towns
Ripton vs Windham vs Highgate vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Middletown Springs has the most kids (24% 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 | Ripton | Windham | Highgate | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
594 |
3,528Highest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middletown Springs and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Windham 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 |
$1,208±$438Highest about the VT average |
| Middletown Springs and Highgate 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.