Compare towns
Sheldon vs Ripton vs Calais 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Ripton | Calais | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,267 |
508Lowest |
1,713 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Ripton and Highgate 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 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+ | 14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 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 |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Ripton and Calais 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 |
— | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Calais and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,578 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Calais 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.