Compare towns
Highgate vs Westminster vs Westminster vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Westminster | Westminster | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
497Lowest |
2,999 |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Vernon 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Westminster and Vernon 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Westminster 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.