Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Mendon
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Jay | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
| Mendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Mendon 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Mendon 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— | $1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Highgate 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Mendon 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.