Compare towns
Highgate vs Barnet vs Williamstown 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 most people working from home (14.9%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Barnet | Williamstown | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,855Lowest |
3,579Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Barnet and Highgate 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% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Vernon 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 |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.