Compare towns
Brighton vs Highgate vs Williamstown vs Morgan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Morgan has the most people working from home (22.4%).
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 | Brighton | Highgate | Williamstown | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Morgan and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$91,250±$25k 12% above VT |
| Williamstown and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$311,300±$66kHighest about the VT average |
| Morgan and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,112±$64 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
$3,426 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Morgan 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.