Compare towns

Highgate vs Sandgate vs Worcester

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 kids (15.8% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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.

MeasureHighgateSandgateWorcester
People
Population
3,528Highest
435Lowest
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
55.7±5.4Highest
29% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Kids under 18
15.8%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±7.5
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Highgate and Sandgate 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%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Sandgate 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.8%
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.3%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
Worcester 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±$14kHighest
about the VT average
$69,167±$19kLowest
15% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
Highgate and Worcester 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
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
Highgate and Worcester 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
—
$1,023±$136Highest
17% below VT
Worcester and Highgate 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
$4,421Highest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
Highgate and Worcester 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%
9.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1959Lowest
17 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
27 minLowest
16% above VT
29 min
22% above VT
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
Sandgate and Worcester 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 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School — None in town
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.