Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Orwell vs Enosburgh
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 highest household income ($81k).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
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 | Orwell | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
1,294 |
2,804 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
| Jay and Orwell 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Enosburgh 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% |
24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
| Highgate and Jay 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±$45k 26% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
| Orwell 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 |
$3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Enosburgh 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% VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | — | 10.4Highest |
| 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.