Compare towns
Burke vs Highgate vs Vernon vs Cabot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burke has the most expensive homes ($341k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Burke | Highgate | Vernon | Cabot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,317Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
1,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cabot and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
44.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Burke and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT |
| Burke and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $938±$191 24% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,243±$354Highest about the VT average |
| Cabot and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,177 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,639 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±26.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
30 min 27% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Burke and Cabot 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District | — |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.