Compare towns
Highgate vs Barnard vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Barnard | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,211Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Barnard 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±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Barnard 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% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
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.