Compare towns
Colrain vs Highgate vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Colrain | Highgate | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,627Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vernon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Vernon and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Colrain 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 | Mohawk Trail | 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 |
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.