Compare towns
Lempster vs Highgate vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Lempster | Highgate | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 953Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±7.2 31% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55±4.7Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Highgate and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lempster and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,607±$12k 7% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,453±$12kHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $241,900±$29kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$358,600±$32kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,106±$160Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Washington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,558Highest 46% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,321 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lempster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
36 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lempster School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.