Compare towns
Vernon vs Exeter vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
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 | Exeter | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 66% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.