Compare towns
Sunderland vs Highgate vs Starksboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sunderland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Starksboro has the most people working from home (18.5%).
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 | Sunderland | Highgate | Starksboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,269Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.8±2.8 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.2±4.8Lowest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.4%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Starksboro and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.4%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,523±$16kHighest 9% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$82,188±$15k about the VT average |
| Sunderland and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$43kHighest 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$287,700±$42k 9% below VT |
| Sunderland and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,413±$242Highest 15% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,306±$91 6% above VT |
| Sunderland and Starksboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,136 18% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±61.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.6%±26.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sunderland and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
91.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Starksboro 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| 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.