Compare towns
Bleecker vs Highgate vs Williamstown vs Minerva
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 oldest population (median age 59.7).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Minerva has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Bleecker | Highgate | Williamstown | Minerva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 563Lowest |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.7±2.9Highest 53% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56.2±5.7 44% above U.S. |
| Bleecker and Minerva 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Minerva and Bleecker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Minerva are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,732±$21k 7% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$67,303±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Williamstown 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±$61k 34% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$171,800±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$286 33% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$784±$102Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,893Highest 25% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$2,608Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±74.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.1%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.