Compare towns
Highgate vs Sandgate vs West Haven
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 youngest population (median age 44).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
West Haven has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
435 |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Sandgate and West Haven 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% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Haven and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven and Sandgate 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Sandgate 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 |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven 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 |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$245,000±$34k 23% below VT |
| Highgate and West Haven 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 |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.