Compare towns
Baltimore vs Highgate vs Westmore vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baltimore has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Baltimore | Highgate | Westmore | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 361Lowest |
3,528Highest |
465 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.2±10.3 19% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±6.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,500±$16kHighest 32% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,188±$11k 7% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Baltimore and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,400±$27kLowest 31% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Westmore and Highgate 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 |
$1,050±$820 15% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,329 14% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.