Compare towns
Highgate vs Pawlet vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Pawlet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Pawlet | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,480 |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±7.5 11% above VT |
57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT |
| Rupert and Pawlet 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% |
20.3%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Pawlet 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% |
27.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Pawlet 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 VT average |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT |
| Rupert and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT |
| Rupert and Highgate 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 |
$1,153±$215Highest 7% below VT |
— |
| Pawlet 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 |
$3,924 22% below VT |
$4,594Highest 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Pawlet and Highgate 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% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1964 12 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±9.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Pawlet and Rupert 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 | Mettawee School District #84 | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.