Compare towns
Barton vs Vernon vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
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 | Barton | Vernon | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
2,709 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Vernon School District | 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.