Compare towns
Highgate vs Windsor vs Middlesex vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Windsor | Middlesex | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
3,554Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Windsor and Middlesex 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% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Windsor 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windsor 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 |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Vernon 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 | 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.