Compare towns
Highgate vs Williston vs Troy vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Swanton has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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.
| Measure | Highgate | Williston | Troy | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
10,144Highest |
1,749Lowest |
6,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston and Troy 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Swanton 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Swanton 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$87,938±$11k 8% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Williston and Troy 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$233,200±$21kLowest 26% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Swanton 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Troy School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.