Compare towns
Westfield vs Highgate vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westfield has the most expensive homes ($301k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Westfield | Highgate | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 536Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±19.9Highest about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 27.1%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±11.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Westfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$30k 11% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Highgate and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,400±$47kHighest 5% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Westfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$187Lowest 30% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
| Lowell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,388Highest 13% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 29% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Westfield 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lowell School District |
| High school 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 |
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.