Compare towns

Highgate vs Plainfield vs Wallingford vs Enosburgh

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 highest household income ($81k).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
Wallingford has the most homeowners (82.5%).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k 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.

MeasureHighgatePlainfieldWallingfordEnosburgh
People
Population
3,528Highest
1,314Lowest
2,286
2,804
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
45.9±10.8
6% above VT
40.6±3.9Lowest
6% below VT
Plainfield and Wallingford 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%
18.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
21%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Enosburgh and Wallingford 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%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
23.9%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
17.9%±3.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wallingford 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%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
20.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.4%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
Enosburgh 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±$14kHighest
about the VT average
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$80,230±$15k
about the VT average
$63,828±$17kLowest
21% below VT
Highgate and Wallingford 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
$261,900±$44k
17% below VT
$223,100±$39kLowest
30% 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±$103Highest
7% below VT
$891±$95
28% below VT
$852±$87Lowest
31% below VT
Plainfield 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
$4,806Highest
5% below VT
$4,355
14% below VT
$3,624
28% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48.9%±11.2
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield and Enosburgh 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%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
82.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
25 min
6% above VT
32 minHighest
36% above VT
Work from home
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.1%±4.4
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
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 — Mill River Unified Union School District #52 Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School — None in town Enosburg Falls Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
— —
10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.