Compare towns
Vernon vs Hampton vs Highgate vs Wolcott
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).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Hampton | Highgate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,145Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.4±5.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Hampton 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% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wolcott and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolcott and Hampton 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 U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 14% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$221,300±$23k 33% below U.S. |
| 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 28% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,059±$118 25% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,930 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
75.7%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Highgate and Wolcott 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.