Compare towns
Benson vs Highgate vs Bleecker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Bleecker has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
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 | Benson | Highgate | Bleecker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 271Lowest |
3,528Highest |
563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.3%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bleecker and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Highgate and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
| Bleecker and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,893Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Highgate and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Bleecker 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 | — |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.