Compare towns
Orwell vs Enosburgh vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orwell has the most expensive homes ($336k median).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Orwell | Enosburgh | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,294Lowest |
2,804 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Orwell 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,914Highest 22% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 15% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Orwell 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.