Compare towns
Highgate vs Benson vs Troy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Troy has the most kids (21.4% 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 | Benson | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
271Lowest |
1,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7 14% above U.S. |
| Benson and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$230,100±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Highest 37% below U.S. |
— | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,644Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Benson 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 | — | Troy 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 |
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.