Compare towns
Williamstown vs Colrain vs Highgate vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Williamstown | Colrain | Highgate | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,627 |
3,528 |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$996±$285 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 23% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mohawk Trail | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 9.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.