Compare towns
Vernon vs Worcester vs Highgate vs Guilford
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Guilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Worcester | Highgate | Guilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709 |
831Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
46.7±5.2 8% above VT |
| Worcester and Guilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Guilford and Highgate 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Guilford and Vernon 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$75,243±$6k 7% below VT |
| 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$312,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
| Guilford 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,283±$273Highest 4% above VT |
| Guilford 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,827Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Guilford 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.7%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Guilford 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.