Compare towns
Vernon vs Stratton vs Highgate vs Wallingford
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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Stratton | Highgate | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
532Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Wallingford 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest 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% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 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±$9k 6% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$80,230±$15kLowest about the VT average |
| Stratton and Vernon 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.