Compare towns
Highgate vs Dover vs Wallingford
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 youngest population (median age 44).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Wallingford has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,466Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Dover and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Wallingford 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Dover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dover and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.