What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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	Bow
People
Population	3,528Lowest	8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Highgate and Bow 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%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Highgate and Bow 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 U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow 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±$14kLowest about the U.S. average	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
	Bow and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Highgate 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	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Bow School District
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.8Highest
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.