Compare towns
Vernon vs Walden 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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% 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 | Walden | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,037Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Walden and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Walden 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±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% 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±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$900±$136 27% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Walden 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Highgate 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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 |
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.