Compare towns
Heath vs Highgate vs Vernon vs Leyden
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 the most people working from home (31.7%).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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 | Vernon | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765 |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
637Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9Highest 38% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.2±8.2 37% above U.S. |
| Heath and Leyden 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% |
15.1%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Heath and Leyden 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% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Heath and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 22% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
$105,893±$13kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 11% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
$372,900±$24kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
$1,917±$451Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 42% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,651 49% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Leyden and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District | — |
| 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.