Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Wallingford vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Swanton has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Jay | Wallingford | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
471Lowest |
2,286 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Wallingford 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% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford 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% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton 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 |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
| Swanton 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 |
— | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Swanton 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% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.