Compare towns
Westmore vs Highgate vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmore has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Westmore | Highgate | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
3,528Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,188±$11kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
| Westmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137kHighest 4% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
| Westmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820 15% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357Highest 6% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.