Compare towns
Swanton vs Windham 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 the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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 | Swanton | Windham | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,820Highest |
594Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.7±5.5Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Swanton and Highgate 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Windham 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±$35k 10% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
— | $895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Swanton and Highgate 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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 |
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.