Compare towns
Highgate vs Conesville vs Vernon vs Williamstown
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%).
Conesville has the oldest population (median age 50).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Conesville | Vernon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
750Lowest |
2,709 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
50±8.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Conesville 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown 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% |
28%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$74,000±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$214,300±$31kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$892±$296Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,500Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Conesville 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% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Vernon School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.