Compare towns
Highgate vs Andover vs Vernon vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Wallingford has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Andover | Vernon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
616Lowest |
2,709 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Andover and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Andover and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Andover and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Andover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town | 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 |
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.