Compare towns
Halifax vs Highgate vs Marlboro vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Halifax | Highgate | Marlboro | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 847Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,362 |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$77,135±$10k 5% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
| Highgate and Marlboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT |
$262,300±$30kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154 29% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Marlboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,640Highest 12% above VT |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.1%±43.6 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.9% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 38% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 26% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
26%±11.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Marlboro 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 | Halifax School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Marlboro School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.