What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).

Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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	Brattleboro
People
Population	3,528Lowest	12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT
	Brattleboro 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%	19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brattleboro 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%	25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Brattleboro 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%	46.5%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Brattleboro 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	$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT	$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT
	Highgate and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,074±$58Highest 13% below VT
	Brattleboro 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	$5,700Highest 13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brattleboro 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%	17.8%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	19 minLowest 19% below VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Brattleboro 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	#33 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	9.0Lowest
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.