Compare towns
Highgate vs Montgomery vs Windham vs Vernon
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).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 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 | Montgomery | Windham | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,047 |
594Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.4% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Montgomery and Windham 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Windham 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Montgomery 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 |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Windham and Vernon 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Windham and Montgomery 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 |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
— | $1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$4,326 14% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Windham 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% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Montgomery 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | Vernon School District |
| 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 | 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.