Compare towns
Vernon vs Williston vs Highgate vs Wolcott
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($221k 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 | Williston | Highgate | Wolcott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
10,144Highest |
3,528 |
1,507Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.8%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wolcott and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Wolcott 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$70,259±$10kLowest 13% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$221,300±$23kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,059±$118 14% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,930 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Vernon School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Wolcott School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.