Swanton Covered Railroad Bridge · Photo: Chester Liebs · Public domainHighgate spent less per resident in 2022 than 83% of similar towns
Highgate’s town government spent $2.1 million on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $603 per resident.
What stands out about how Highgate is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$581 per resident in 2022: less than 83% of them
Highgate’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($581 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 24 Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $1,077, and the middle half spent $821–$1,428. Highgate spent less than 83% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Highgate itself left out).
About $603 per resident a year, or $1.65 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 50%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Day-to-day spending has held about steady since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Highgate reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $581 · 2024: $603.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $3,558 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.27% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Highgate’s rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.
Tax bills are one input to Highgate’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Highgate →
Most Vermont towns vote on March 2, 2027
Check Highgate’s own dates: some towns hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2).
Highgate’s meetings aren’t in our feed yet. Neighbors who know where agendas are posted can add it to the Handbook.
Vermont’s Town Meeting Day is the first Tuesday in March, when towns vote on budgets and elect officers.
Some towns hold the business session on another day, and some vote by ballot (SB2). Check Highgate’s site for its warrant and dates.
Who’s in charge in Highgate
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 441 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (3,530).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Missisquoi Valley School District 89
Highgate’s K–12 school district, shared with Franklin, Swanton, Swanton. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $25,979 per pupil, $13,638 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Highgate voted in 2024
Official results for Highgate’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Donald J TrumpRepublican61.0%1,081 votes
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat36.1%639 votesOthers: 2.9% (51 votes).
Most votes in Highgate: Donald J Trump
Franklin County: Harris 49.7%, Trump 46.7% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%
of Highgate’s 2,952 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Highgate: Gerald Malloy
Franklin County: Sanders 50.3%, Malloy 45.5% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%
Most votes in Highgate: Phil Scott
Franklin County: Scott 82.8%, Charlestin 12.4% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%
Most votes in the district: Becca Balint
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Highgate, its county and the state
| Trump | Harris | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highgate | 61.0% | 36.1% | 2.9% | 1,771 |
| Franklin County | 46.7% | 49.7% | 3.6% | 26,743 |
| Vermont | 32.3% | 63.8% | 3.9% | 369,422 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Highgate.
- 1Your townTown governmentLocal officials aren’t on record yet.
- 2Vermont HouseState representatives
- 3Vermont SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Highgate compares with the towns next door
Highgate spent $581 per resident in 2022; the neighbor that reported 2022 spent $662. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Highgate’s government
Neighbors add phone numbers and hours to the Handbook.
Questions about Highgate’s government
How much does Highgate spend per resident?
About $603 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $581 was less than 83% of 24 Vermont towns and townships of 2,500–9,999 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Highgate?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $3,558 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.27% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see the town’s assessor.
Who runs Highgate’s government?
We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Highgate yet.
How did Highgate vote in 2024?
For president, Donald J Trump 61.0%, Kamala D Harris 36.1% (1,771 votes, official results). Franklin County: Harris 49.7%, Trump 46.7%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.
How many people work for Highgate?
8 full-time and 8 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $53,083 (about $636,996 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Highgate in the state legislature?
State Senate District Franklin (Bob Norris and Randy Brock) and State House District Franklin-5 (Lisa Hango and Wayne Laroche). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
When is town meeting in Highgate?
Most Vermont towns vote on the first Tuesday in March (March 2, 2027). Some hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2), so check the town’s own site for Highgate’s own dates.
Ask neighbors about Highgate’s government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →