Compare towns
Lowell vs Vernon vs Highgate
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%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Vernon | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
2,709 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 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% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% 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 |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Lowell 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 |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lowell School District | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.