Compare towns
Highgate vs Vernon vs White River Junction
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 homeowners (80.7%).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Vernon | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,709Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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 VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$14k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
| 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 27% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Vernon 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 |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Highgate 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon 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.