Compare towns

Williamstown vs Sandgate vs Highgate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamstown has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k 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.

MeasureWilliamstownSandgateHighgate
People
Population
3,579Highest
435Lowest
3,528
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
-1.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±5Lowest
about the VT average
55.7±5.4Highest
29% above VT
44±7.4
about the VT average
Sandgate and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±5.3
VT: 17.9%
Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26%±11.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Sandgate and Highgate 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
VT: 43.8%
37.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
19.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±3.2Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±2.4Lowest
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
Williamstown and Highgate 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
16% above VT
$69,167±$19kLowest
15% below VT
$81,017±$14k
about the VT average
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
26% below VT
$193,800±$31kLowest
39% below VT
$280,500±$21kHighest
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,659±$189Highest
34% above VT
—
$895±$691Lowest
27% below VT
Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,841Highest
24% below VT
$2,778Lowest
45% below VT
$3,558
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3
VT: 48.4%
Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
9.7%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1959Lowest
17 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
about the VT average
27 min
16% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
13.9%±6.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
34.6%±32.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
Sandgate 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 #47 of 70 in VT — #43 of 70 in VT
School district Paine Mountain Union School District #68 — Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town Williamstown Middle/High School — Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
—
9.8Highest
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.