Compare towns
Highgate vs Worcester vs Wallingford
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 youngest population (median age 44).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
831Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Worcester and Wallingford 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% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Highgate 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% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Highgate and Worcester 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±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Worcester and Highgate 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Worcester 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.