Compare towns
Highgate vs Halifax vs Vernon 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Halifax | Vernon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
847Lowest |
2,709 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Williamstown 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Vernon 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Vernon 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 38% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Halifax School District | Vernon School District | 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.