Compare towns
Highgate vs Fletcher 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
Swanton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Fletcher | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,196Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Fletcher 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% |
19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Fletcher 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% |
21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Fletcher 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% |
32.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.9Lowest 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±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$302,100±$37kHighest 5% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Fletcher and Swanton 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 |
$1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Fletcher 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 |
$4,965Highest about the VT average |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±78.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Fletcher 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Fletcher 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 | Fletcher School District | 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.