What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).

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	Barre	Highgate
People
Population	5,572Highest	3,528Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±8.5Lowest 13% above U.S.	44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S.
	Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,727±$13kHighest 33% above U.S.	$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average
	Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,300±$55kHighest 19% above U.S.	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,030±$713Highest 27% below U.S.	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Highest 66% above U.S.	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±27.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	11.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Highgate and Barre 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	#134 of 282 in MA	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	Quabbin	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	Quabbin Regional High School	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.