Compare towns
Wolcott vs Highgate vs Ryegate vs Wallingford
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 most renters (20.5% rent).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Ryegate | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,507 |
3,528Highest |
1,059Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±5.9 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Wolcott 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1Lowest 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±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,059±$118Highest 14% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Wolcott and Ryegate 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 |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,355Highest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75.7%±21.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest 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% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±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 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| 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.