Compare towns
Halifax vs Vernon vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Vernon | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
2,709 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Highgate 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% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Halifax School District | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.