Compare towns
Worcester vs Vernon vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Vernon | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,709 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Highest 17% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.