What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Barton
People
Population	3,528Highest	2,815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	44.9±6.5Highest 4% above VT
	Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.7%±3.8Highest 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+	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	23.5%±3.9Highest 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+	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	32.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	2.9%±1.5Highest 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	$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average	$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT
	Highgate and Barton 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	$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Highest 27% below VT	$793±$70Lowest 36% 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	$3,558Highest 29% below VT	$3,355Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	39.6%±12.5Highest 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	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 32% above VT	35 minHighest 50% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	13.4%±5.7Lowest 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	#43 of 70 in VT	#38 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Lake Region Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.5Highest
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.