Compare towns
Highgate vs Williamstown vs Windham vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
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 | Williamstown | Windham | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
3,579 |
16,038Highest |
2,286Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Highest 18% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Windham 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 U.S. average |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.