Compare towns
Vernon vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Westminster | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
497Lowest |
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 |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 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±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
| Westminster and Vernon 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 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.