What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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	Highgate	Barre
People
Population	3,528Lowest	8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Highest about the VT average	42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average
	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%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	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+	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	36.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7%
	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	$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average	$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT
	Highgate and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT	$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT
	Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT	$5,192Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	34.4%±10.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	17.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	19 minLowest 21% below VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	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	#43 of 70 in VT	#19 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.7Highest
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.