Compare towns
Ira vs Highgate vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k median).
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 | Ira | Highgate | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381 |
3,528Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
— |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 20% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Mount Tabor 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| 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.