Compare towns
Highgate vs Whiting vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Whiting | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
532Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Strafford 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 VT average |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Strafford 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.