Compare towns
Vernon vs Burke vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Burke | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,317Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
23%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Burke and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Burke 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±$9k 6% above VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Burke and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$938±$191 24% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Burke 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 |
$5,177 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Burke 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.