Compare towns
Highgate vs Strafford vs Vershire
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).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k median).
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 | Strafford | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,372 |
842Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$71,618±$12kLowest 12% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Vershire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | — |
| 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.