Compare towns
Highgate vs Lyme vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Lyme | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,710Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,257±$133 11% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,449 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.