Compare towns
Barnard vs Highgate vs Calais vs Royalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Royalton has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Barnard | Highgate | Calais | Royalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,713 |
2,752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Royalton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
| Royalton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | — | #48 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | White River Valley High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.