Compare towns
Vernon vs White River Junction 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 highest household income ($86k).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709Lowest |
3,364 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$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±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% 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±$214 17% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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.