Compare towns
Montgomery vs Highgate vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Montgomery | Highgate | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,047Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Montgomery and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
| Highgate and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,200±$45kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Montgomery and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
| Lowell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,326Highest 14% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 58% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 16%±5.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montgomery and Highgate 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lowell 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 |
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.