Compare towns
Highgate vs Spencer vs Enosburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Spencer has the most expensive homes ($382k median).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% 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 | Spencer | Enosburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
12,008Highest |
2,804Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.6±3.9Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Enosburgh and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Enosburgh and Spencer 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 U.S. average |
$80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$223,100±$39kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S. |
$852±$87Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Spencer and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,387Highest 41% above U.S. |
$3,624 16% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±11.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #26 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Spencer-E Brookfield | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | David Prouty High | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
9.9 |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.