Compare towns
Highgate vs Lowell vs Vernon vs Wallingford
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 most people working from home (14.9%).
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Lowell | Vernon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,070Lowest |
2,709 |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Highgate 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Lowell 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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Vernon 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Vernon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Lowell 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% |
9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Lowell 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lowell School District | Vernon School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.