Compare towns
Orange vs Highgate vs Groton vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Orange | Highgate | Groton | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
3,528Highest |
967 |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Washington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Washington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Groton and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Highgate and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Highgate and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,659Highest 27% below VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Washington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.