Compare towns
Highgate vs Vernon vs Wolcott
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%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,709 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott 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% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Vernon 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 |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% 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 |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott 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 |
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.