Compare towns
Vernon vs Bennington vs Highgate vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Vernon | Bennington | Highgate | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
15,249Highest |
3,528 |
2,286Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Vernon 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±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,133±$63Highest 8% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Bennington and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Vernon School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.