What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most kids (15.8% under 18).

Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).

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	Grafton
People
Population	3,528Highest	666Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%	5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%	48.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	7.1%±5Highest VT: 7%
	Grafton 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	$76,111±$7kLowest 6% below VT
	Highgate and Grafton 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	$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT
	Grafton and Highgate 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	$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT
	Grafton 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	$4,843Highest 4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Grafton 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 VT: 10.1%	4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	89.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1978Lowest 2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	24 minLowest 4% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	15.8%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Grafton 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	Athens Grafton School District
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.