Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Rupert
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k 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 | Jay | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
471Lowest |
676 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert 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%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Jay 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% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Rupert 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 |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert 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 |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rupert 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 |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Highgate 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
93.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Rupert 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.