Compare towns
Wells vs Highgate vs Enosburgh vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Enosburgh has the most kids (21% under 18).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Wells | Highgate | Enosburgh | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,148 |
3,528Highest |
2,804 |
999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
50.1±5.9 16% above VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Enosburgh and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
| Wells and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,006Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
35 min 49% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Topsham 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Waits River Union High District #36 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| 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.