Compare towns
Highgate vs Middlesex vs Montpelier
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 affordable homes ($281k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,943Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.