Compare towns
Swanton vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
1,943Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Middlesex and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 13% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Swanton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.