Compare towns
Highgate vs Orange vs Vernon 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%).
Orange has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Orange | Vernon | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
7,573Highest |
2,709Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Williamstown 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vernon 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Vernon 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,136 33% above U.S. |
$5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #30 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Vernon School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | 9.5 |
| 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.