Compare towns
Highgate vs Windsor vs Northfield vs Vernon
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Northfield | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
3,554 |
5,920Highest |
2,709Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Windsor and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Highgate 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%±3.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% 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% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$1,026±$89Highest 17% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Windsor and Vernon 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Windsor 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older 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 16% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Vernon School District |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.