Compare towns
Sheldon vs Mount Tabor vs Ripton vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Ripton has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Mount Tabor | Ripton | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
304Lowest |
508 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 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+ | 12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
— | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 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 | 5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| 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.