Compare towns
Wolcott vs Highgate vs Elmore vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolcott has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Wolcott | Highgate | Elmore | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
3,528Highest |
964Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45±3.5Highest 4% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Elmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.1%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Wolcott and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,259±$10k 13% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Elmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $221,300±$23k 30% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Elmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
| Elmore and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,930 22% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wolcott and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 25% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Wolcott 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 | Wolcott School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | — |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.