Compare towns
Highgate vs Ludlow vs Swanton
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 homeowners (80.7%).
Ludlow has the most renters (48.6% rent).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Ludlow | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
808Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Ludlow 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% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$56,667±$19kLowest 30% below VT |
$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±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Ludlow and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ludlow and Swanton 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% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.