Compare towns
Highgate vs Dover vs Dummerston 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Dover | Dummerston | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,466Lowest |
2,090 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Dover and Dummerston 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Swanton 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Dummerston 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Dummerston 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Dummerston 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 |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Dover 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.