Compare towns
Swanton vs Williamstown 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%).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Williamstown | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,820Highest |
3,579 |
3,528Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Swanton 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 |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% 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±$133 about the VT average |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,449Highest 12% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.