Compare towns
Highgate vs Troy vs Waterville
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%).
Troy has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Troy | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,749 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Troy 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% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Waterville 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% |
17.7%±3 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Troy 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% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Troy 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 |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Troy 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 |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville and Highgate 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 |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$3,957Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Troy 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Waterville 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 | Troy School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.