Compare towns
Highgate vs Oakham 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Oakham has the most expensive homes ($420k 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 | Oakham | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,639Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
49±2.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±5.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Oakham 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% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Oakham 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% |
40.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oakham 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 |
$102,000±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$81,371±$14k about the U.S. average |
| Oakham and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$420,100±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$285,100±$35k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,257±$133Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Oakham 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. |
$4,103 32% above U.S. |
$4,449Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Oakham 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 | Quabbin | 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.