Compare towns
Colrain vs Highgate vs Williamstown vs Heath
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 housing (typical home built 1963).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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 | Colrain | Highgate | Williamstown | Heath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
3,528 |
3,579Highest |
765Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.8%Highest 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% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Heath 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 |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Heath and Williamstown 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±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Colrain 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | Mohawk Trail | 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 |
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.