Compare towns
Ira vs Highgate vs Westmore
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 youngest population (median age 44).
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Westmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 381Lowest |
3,528Highest |
465 |
| 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 |
51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
| Ira and Westmore 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% |
21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Westmore 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% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
| Westmore 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±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
| Westmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $942±$52 24% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,050±$820Highest 15% below VT |
| Westmore and Ira 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 |
$5,357Highest 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ira and Westmore 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 20% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Westmore 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.