Compare towns
Vernon vs Westford 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).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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 | Westford | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
2,290Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Westford 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% |
16.9%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Westford and Highgate 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Westford 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.