Compare towns
Hampton vs Highgate vs Waterville vs West Haven
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 the most kids (20.4% under 18).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).
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 | Hampton | Highgate | Waterville | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,145 |
3,528Highest |
680 |
234Lowest |
| 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±8.2 26% above U.S. |
54±10.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Waterville 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% |
17.5%±13.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and West Haven 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Haven and Highgate 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% |
30.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$85,250±$29kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| West Haven and Highgate 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. |
$245,000±$34k 26% below U.S. |
| Highgate and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
$4,485Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3%Highest 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. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below 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% |
10.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and West Haven 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 | 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.