Compare towns

Hampton vs Highgate vs Waterville

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

MeasureHamptonHighgateWaterville
People
Population
1,145
3,528Highest
680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.1±14.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
44±7.4
13% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Waterville and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.2%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Waterville and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,796±$8k
9% below U.S.
$81,017±$14kHighest
about the U.S. average
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below U.S.
Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$280,500±$21kHighest
16% below U.S.
$236,300±$15k
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$895±$691Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,110±$93
21% below U.S.
Hampton and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$3,558
14% above U.S.
$3,957Highest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.5%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
17% above U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
Highgate and Waterville 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 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
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

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.