Compare towns
Belvidere vs Highgate vs Vernon vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
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 | Belvidere | Highgate | Vernon | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 422Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
470 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
42.4±8.8 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 | 22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4 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+ | 35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$84,375±$20k 4% above VT |
| Vernon and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% 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 | $1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District | — |
| 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.