Compare towns
Heath vs Highgate vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Colrain has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Heath | Highgate | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 765Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Heath and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
| Heath and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Heath 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mohawk Trail |
| 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.