Compare towns
Highgate vs Worcester vs Putney 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 most people working from home (23.6%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
831Lowest |
2,622 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Worcester 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Putney and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Worcester 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.