Compare towns

Guildhall vs Highgate vs Westfield vs Lancaster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Westfield has the most kids (27.1% under 18).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureGuildhallHighgateWestfieldLancaster
People
Population
371Lowest
3,528Highest
536
3,216
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±7.8Lowest
10% above U.S.
44±7.4
13% above U.S.
44±19.9
13% above U.S.
45.5±6.9Highest
17% above U.S.
Lancaster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±7.5
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.1%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±6.1
U.S.: 22%
Westfield and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.1%±5.5
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±11.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.4%±5.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Westfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
33.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Westfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$115,000±$46kHighest
42% above U.S.
$81,017±$14k
about the U.S. average
$72,500±$30k
10% below U.S.
$68,911±$23kLowest
15% below U.S.
Guildhall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$321,200±$62kHighest
3% below U.S.
$280,500±$21k
16% below U.S.
$301,400±$47k
9% below U.S.
$215,700±$24kLowest
35% below U.S.
Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$717Lowest
40% below U.S.
$895±$691
37% below U.S.
$863±$187
39% below U.S.
$1,019±$263Highest
28% below U.S.
Lancaster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,625Highest
48% above U.S.
$3,558Lowest
14% above U.S.
$4,388
41% above U.S.
$4,226
35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
75%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.5%±11.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.7%±71.3
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
Guildhall and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1942Lowest
38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
Work from home
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±6.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Highgate and Westfield 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 — #107 of 120 in NH
School district — Missisquoi Valley School District #89 — White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town — Missisquoi Valley Union High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
— —
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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.