Compare towns
Swanton vs Bennington vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.3%).
Bennington has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
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 | Swanton | Bennington | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,820 |
15,249Highest |
3,528Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,371±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Swanton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$35kHighest 10% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Swanton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Swanton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,449 12% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 13% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington 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 | #27 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
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.