What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Colebrook
People
Population	3,528Highest	1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S.	53.7±4.9Highest 38% above U.S.
	Colebrook 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 U.S.: 22%	13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Highgate and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Colebrook 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Colebrook 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	$51,159±$6kLowest 37% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S.	$192,200±$59kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Highest 37% below U.S.	$750±$238Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Highgate and Colebrook 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.	$4,350Highest 39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.3%±19.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Colebrook 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%	13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Highgate and Colebrook 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	Colebrook School District
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	8.4Lowest
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.