Compare towns
Highgate vs Dummerston vs Barnard vs Williamstown
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 renters (19.3% rent).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
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 | Dummerston | Barnard | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,090 |
1,211Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Barnard and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 |
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.