Compare towns
Vernon vs Plainfield vs Highgate vs Wolcott
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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Plainfield | Highgate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,314Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,507 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Wolcott 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±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
| 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±$25k 10% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| Plainfield and Vernon 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Wolcott 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | 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 |
— |
| 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.