What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Highgate
People
Population	2,598Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest VT: +2.8%	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT	44±7.4Highest about the VT average
	Highgate and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Arlington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Highgate and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.7Highest VT: 7%	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Arlington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT	$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average
	Arlington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average	$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT
	Arlington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT
	Arlington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,549Highest 10% below VT	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4%	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 13% below VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#50 of 70 in VT	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	Arlington School District	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	Arlington Memorial	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.6Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.