Compare towns
Vernon vs Cavendish 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 the most renters (23.8% rent).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
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 | Vernon | Cavendish | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,242Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±5.9Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Cavendish and Highgate 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% |
18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Vernon 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% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cavendish 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 |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Cavendish 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±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Cavendish 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Cavendish 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | 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 Our Story | 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.