Compare towns
Highgate vs Ira vs Westmore
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).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Ira | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
381Lowest |
465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
| Ira and Westmore 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westmore 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% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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 |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
| Westmore and Highgate 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 |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
| Westmore and Highgate 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 |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$1,050±$820Highest 15% below VT |
| Westmore and Ira 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Westmore 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| 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.