Compare towns
Highgate vs Newfane vs Townshend
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 kids (15.8% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Newfane | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,456Lowest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Townshend 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% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Highgate and Townshend 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
| Townshend and Newfane 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 |
$1,266±$238Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Newfane 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Townshend 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.