Compare towns

Highgate vs Wallingford vs Williamstown

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%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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.

MeasureHighgateWallingfordWilliamstown
People
Population
3,528
2,286Lowest
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
45.9±10.8Highest
6% above VT
42±5Lowest
about the VT average
Wallingford and Highgate 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%
18.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
19.9%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Williamstown and Wallingford 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%
23.9%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
17%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wallingford 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%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
17.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
Williamstown 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
$80,230±$15kLowest
about the VT average
$94,418±$10kHighest
16% above VT
Williamstown 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
$261,900±$44k
17% below VT
$234,900±$24kLowest
26% below VT
Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691
27% below VT
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
$1,659±$189Highest
34% above VT
Williamstown 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
$4,355Highest
14% below VT
$3,841
24% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown 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%
7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
25 min
6% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.9%±6.6
VT: 16.9%
Highgate and Williamstown 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 — #47 of 70 in VT
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Mill River Unified Union School District #52 Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School None in town Williamstown Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Highest
—
9.5Lowest
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.