Compare towns
Highgate vs Chester vs Swanton
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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Chester | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,992Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Swanton 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 |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
| Swanton 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 |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
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| 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.