Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Highgate vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Wardsboro | Highgate | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,026 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$70,417±$30k 13% below VT |
| Highgate and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,098±$300 11% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345Highest 14% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,822 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Wardsboro 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.