Compare towns
Highgate vs Benson vs Troy vs Enosburgh
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 expensive homes ($281k median).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
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 | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
784Lowest |
1,749 |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| 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%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Enosburgh 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% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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 |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| 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 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Highgate and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$852±$87 31% below VT |
| Benson and Highgate 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 |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Enosburgh 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Troy School District | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.4Highest |
| 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.