Compare towns
Vernon vs Waltham 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).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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 | Waltham | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
452Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
39%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14kHighest 20% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Waltham 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 |
$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113Highest 11% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Waltham 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 |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Waltham 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% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Waltham 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 |
| High school 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.