Compare towns
Waterville vs Dummerston vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Highgate has the youngest 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 | Waterville | Dummerston | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,090 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Waterville and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.