Compare towns
Highgate vs Swanton vs Swanton
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Swanton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,670Lowest |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Swanton 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% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Swanton 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±$14k about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
| Swanton 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 |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Swanton 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 |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$4,449Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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 | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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 Our Story | 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.