Compare towns
Vernon vs Orange vs Wallingford 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Orange | Wallingford | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
957Lowest |
2,286 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Orange and Wallingford 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% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Wallingford 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford 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% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| 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 10% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| 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 17% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Orange and Vernon 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.