Compare towns
Highgate vs Putney vs Williston
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 homeowners (80.7%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Putney | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,622Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston 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%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Highgate 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.