Compare towns
Westmore vs Highgate vs Charleston
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).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
3,528Highest |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 19% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| Charleston 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Charleston 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 |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% 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 |
$238,000±$53kLowest 25% 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±$820Highest 15% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
| Westmore and Charleston 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 |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Westmore and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 49% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston 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 | Charleston 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.