Compare towns
Lowell vs Highgate vs Vernon vs Roxbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Roxbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Lowell | Highgate | Vernon | Roxbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,070 |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
942Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
35.6±11.7 17% below VT |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.6%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.7%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
29.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,214±$22k 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$242,600±$55k 23% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$950±$495 23% below VT |
| Vernon and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,284 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
16.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Lowell 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lowell School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon 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 | 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.