Compare towns
Highgate vs Worcester vs Middlesex vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
831Lowest |
1,943 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Middlesex 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,257±$133 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Swanton 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.