Compare towns
Smithville vs Highgate vs Oxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithville has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($119k median).
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 | Smithville | Highgate | Oxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,525Lowest |
3,528 |
3,546Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±3.2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
51.2±5.9Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Oxford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Oxford and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Oxford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Smithville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,433±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$61,168±$11kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $173,200±$42k 48% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$119,400±$25kLowest 64% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $889±$186Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$913±$113Highest 35% below U.S. |
| Oxford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,254Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$2,616Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±31.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Oxford and Smithville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.8%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Oxford 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 | #445 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | OXFORD ACADEMY AND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | OXFORD ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.