Compare towns
Meredith vs Highgate vs Grafton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Grafton has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Meredith | Highgate | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,467Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,859 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.3±4.6Highest 40% above U.S. |
44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
52.4±6.9 35% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Highgate and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,938±$16k 6% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$100,809±$24kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Grafton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $230,600±$24k 31% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$216,800±$39kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$175Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,112±$329Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,630Highest 16% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,452Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.1%±53.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.5%±46.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 23% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Meredith 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 |
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.