What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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	Highgate	Berlin
People
Population	3,528Lowest	9,383Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S.	44.6±2.8Highest 15% above U.S.
	Berlin 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 U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Highgate and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Berlin 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 U.S. average	$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S.	$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Highest 37% below U.S.	$815±$141Lowest 42% below U.S.
	Highgate and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Highest 14% above U.S.	$3,437Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berlin 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 U.S.: 12.5%	15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#43 of 70 in VT	#108 of 120 in NH
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Berlin School District
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	8.2Lowest
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.