Compare towns
Cornish vs Highgate vs Jay vs Westmoreland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Westmoreland has the most expensive homes ($352k 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 | Cornish | Highgate | Jay | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,816 |
3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
2,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5 34% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmoreland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westmoreland and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$104,444±$28kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$351,800±$12kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
— | $1,354±$280Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796 86% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$6,643Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.5%±23.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornish and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | — |
| School district | Cornish School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Westmoreland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.