Compare towns
Vernon vs Braintree vs Highgate vs Wolcott
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Wolcott has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Highgate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,026Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Highgate 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott 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 |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$221,300±$23k 30% 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
| Wolcott 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Vernon School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.