Compare towns
Highgate vs Dorset 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).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Swanton has the most renters (22.1% rent).
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 | Dorset | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,092Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Swanton 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% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Dorset 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton and Dorset 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Dorset 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 |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Dorset and Swanton 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.2% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%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 |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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.