Compare towns
Highgate vs Randolph vs Williamstown vs Wallingford
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 expensive homes ($281k median).
Randolph has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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.
| Measure | Highgate | Randolph | Williamstown | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,007Lowest |
3,579Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
50.5±7.7Highest 17% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Randolph and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
24.2%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Wallingford 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% |
42.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.3%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Randolph 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 |
$75,069±$11kLowest 8% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$235,400±$25k 26% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 |
$1,095±$198 11% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,507Highest 11% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.3%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Randolph 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% |
14.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
53.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.