Compare towns
Bleecker vs Highgate vs Newcomb vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bleecker has the most affordable homes ($221k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Newcomb has the shortest commute (17 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 | Bleecker | Highgate | Newcomb | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 563 |
3,528Highest |
490 |
271Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
59.1±10.1 52% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7 30% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.4%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±9.3 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+ | 34.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±6.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9 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+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.3%±5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$108,750±$25kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Newcomb and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,100±$61kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$254,800±$47k 23% below U.S. |
$230,100±$15k 31% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Newcomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$286Highest 33% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% 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 | $3,893Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$1,488Lowest 52% below U.S. |
$2,528 19% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2Lowest 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 | 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.