Compare towns

Highgate vs Cornwall 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 affordable homes ($281k median).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
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.

MeasureHighgateCornwallSwanton
People
Population
3,528
1,208Lowest
6,820Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+4.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
43.7±5.5Lowest
about the VT average
Cornwall 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%
18.7%±3
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
Swanton and Cornwall 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%
25.7%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Cornwall 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%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
23.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
3%±1.6
VT: 7%
Cornwall 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±$14kLowest
about the VT average
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$81,371±$14k
about the VT average
Cornwall and Swanton 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
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$285,100±$35k
10% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
$1,257±$133Highest
about the VT average
Swanton and Cornwall 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
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$4,449
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
32.7%±14.2
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Swanton 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%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
77.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
1976Lowest
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall 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 — #27 of 70 in VT
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Missisquoi Valley School District #89
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.