Compare towns
Williamstown vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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.
| Measure | Williamstown | Wells | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
1,148Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wells 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% |
29.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% 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±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Williamstown and Wells 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest about the VT average |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | 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.