Compare towns

Highgate vs Williston vs Underhill

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 affordable homes ($281k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureHighgateWillistonUnderhill
People
Population
3,528
10,144Highest
3,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.7%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
45.4±4.5Highest
5% above VT
38.1±11.4Lowest
12% below VT
Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
27.8%±10.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Underhill and Williston 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%
17.6%±6Lowest
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%
50.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.5%±2
VT: 7%
Williston and Underhill 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
$92,267±$54k
14% above VT
Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,500±$21kLowest
11% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$446,000±$24k
41% above VT
Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,558Lowest
29% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$6,697Highest
33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.5%±11.3
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±18.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
6.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1979Lowest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
33 minHighest
39% above VT
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.4%±11.3
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Underhill 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 #2 of 70 in VT
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
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.