Compare towns

Highgate vs Pomfret vs Williamstown

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 most renters (19.3% rent).
Pomfret has the most people working from home (30.3%).
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.

MeasureHighgatePomfretWilliamstown
People
Population
3,528
908Lowest
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
53.4±12.1Highest
24% above VT
42±5Lowest
about the VT average
Pomfret and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.9%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williamstown and Highgate 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%
29.5%±6.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Pomfret 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%
VT: 43.8%
58%Highest
VT: 43.8%
17.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.4%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Williamstown 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±$14kLowest
about the VT average
$84,229±$8k
4% above VT
$94,418±$10kHighest
16% above VT
Williamstown and Pomfret 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
$399,200±$144kHighest
26% above VT
$234,900±$24kLowest
26% below VT
Pomfret 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
$1,170±$98
5% below VT
$1,659±$189Highest
34% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$6,722Highest
33% above VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
VT: 48.4%
24%±22.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown 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%
5.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
81.3%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1970Lowest
6 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
30.3%±10.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Pomfret 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 — #47 of 70 in VT
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School None in town Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
—
9.5Lowest
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.