What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k 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	Chester
People
Population	3,528Highest	2,992Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT
	Chester and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Highgate and Chester 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%	29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Chester 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%	33.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	5.1%±4Highest VT: 7%
	Chester 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	$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT
	Highgate and Chester 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	$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT
	Highgate and Chester 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	$960±$44Highest 22% below VT
	Chester 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	$4,262Highest 15% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4%	11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Highgate and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	28 minLowest 18% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Highgate and Chester 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	#49 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Green Mountain Unified School District #77
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Green Mountain Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	8.7Lowest
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.