Compare towns
Highgate vs Castleton vs Williamstown vs Troy
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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Castleton | Williamstown | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
4,453Highest |
3,579 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
44.5±5.7Highest 3% above VT |
| Troy and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
| Williamstown and Troy 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841Highest 24% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% 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 |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Troy 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.