Compare towns
Sutton vs Williston vs Highgate vs Derby Line
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Sutton | Williston | Highgate | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
10,144Highest |
3,528 |
783Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
46.7±13.3Highest 8% above VT |
| Derby Line and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby Line and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 21% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
83% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — |
| 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.