Compare towns
Exeter vs Highgate vs Jefferson vs Richfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Jefferson has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Richfield has the most affordable homes ($146k 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 | Exeter | Highgate | Jefferson | Richfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 913Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,226 |
1,949 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37±7.3Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jefferson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Richfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$67,083±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$59,833±$14kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$186,900±$42k 44% below U.S. |
$146,400±$15kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$895±$691Highest 37% below U.S. |
— | $802±$72Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,926 6% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,602Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,207Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±18.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jefferson and Richfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jefferson 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | RICHFIELD SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school 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 |
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.