Compare towns
Ira vs Highgate vs West Haven
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 most homeowners (90.7%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
West Haven has the most kids (17.5% under 18).
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 | West Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381 |
3,528Highest |
234Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
54±10.5 25% above VT |
| Ira and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±13.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| West Haven and Highgate 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% |
29.9%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| West Haven 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% |
30.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.4%±4.4Lowest 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±$14k about the VT average |
$85,250±$29kHighest 5% above VT |
| West Haven and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$245,000±$34kLowest 23% below VT |
| Highgate and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
— |
| Ira and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,146 18% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,485Highest 11% below 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% |
10.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 20% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and West Haven 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.