What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).

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	Barton	Highgate
People
Population	2,815Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44.9±6.5Highest 4% above VT	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average
	Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±1.5Highest VT: 7%	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT	$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average
	Highgate and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT	$895±$691Highest 27% below VT
	Highgate and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,355Lowest 33% below VT	$3,558Highest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.6%±12.5Highest VT: 48.4%	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.2%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Highest 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	35 minHighest 50% above VT	31 minLowest 32% above VT
Work from home	13.4%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Highgate and Barton 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	#38 of 70 in VT	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	Lake Region Union High School	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Highest	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.