Compare towns

Highgate vs Plainfield vs Enosburgh vs Williamstown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Enosburgh has the most renters (24.3% rent).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).

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.

MeasureHighgatePlainfieldEnosburghWilliamstown
People
Population
3,528
1,314Lowest
2,804
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
—
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
40.6±3.9Lowest
6% below VT
42±5
about the VT average
Plainfield 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
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
21%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.9%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Enosburgh and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.2%±5.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
17.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Highgate and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.5%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
20.1%
VT: 43.8%
17.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
5.4%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
Enosburgh and Williamstown 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
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$63,828±$17kLowest
21% below VT
$94,418±$10kHighest
16% above VT
Williamstown 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
$318,400±$34kHighest
about the VT average
$223,100±$39kLowest
30% below VT
$234,900±$24k
26% below VT
Plainfield and Highgate 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
$1,153±$103
7% below VT
$852±$87Lowest
31% below VT
$1,659±$189Highest
34% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$3,624
28% below VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
48.9%±11.2
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown and Plainfield 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%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
13.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
75.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
32 minHighest
36% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
Plainfield and Highgate 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 — #26 of 70 in VT #47 of 70 in VT
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 — Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School — Enosburg Falls Middle/High School Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8
—
10.4Highest
9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.