Compare towns
Highgate vs Monroe vs Ryegate vs Williamstown
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Monroe | Ryegate | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
786Lowest |
1,059 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Monroe 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% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown 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 U.S. average |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$908±$236 36% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,472 11% above U.S. |
$3,841Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Ryegate 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Monroe School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.