Compare towns
Highgate vs Sandgate vs Castleton vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | Sandgate | Castleton | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
435Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Sandgate 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% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton 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% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Vernon 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% |
37.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
— | $1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.