Compare towns
Highgate vs Unity vs Vernon
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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.
| Measure | Highgate | Unity | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,375Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Vernon 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±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
| Unity and Vernon 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. |
$276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
| Unity and Vernon 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,191 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Unity 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Unity School District | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
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.