Compare towns
Belvidere vs Highgate vs Waterville
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 most people working from home (14.9%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 422Lowest |
3,528Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Highgate 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Waterville 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%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Waterville 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Belvidere and Highgate 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Highgate and Belvidere 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 |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Belvidere and Waterville 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Waterville 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% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Belvidere 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.