Compare towns
Vernon vs Highgate vs Middlesex vs Barton
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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Highgate | Middlesex | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
3,528Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.9±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Barton and Middlesex 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Barton 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Middlesex and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,355Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| 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.