What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).

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	Burke
People
Population	3,528Highest	1,317Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Highest about the VT average	41.1±4.8Lowest 5% below VT
	Highgate and Burke 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%	23%±4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Burke 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 VT: 21.4%	21.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Highgate and Burke 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%	41.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.6%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	Burke 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 VT average	$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT
	Burke and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT	$340,600±$18kHighest 8% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$938±$191Highest 24% below VT
	Burke 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	$5,177Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	25 minLowest 8% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	23.4%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Burke 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	—
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.