Compare towns
Highgate vs Calais 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).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Calais | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Highgate 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.