Compare towns
Athens vs Cornwall vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Athens | Cornwall | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,208 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Cornwall and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Athens 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 |
| High school 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 |
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.