What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).

Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k 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	Hardwick
People
Population	3,528Highest	2,965Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT
	Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9%	15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hardwick 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%	33.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Highgate and Hardwick 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	$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT
	Hardwick 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±$21kHighest 11% below VT	$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Highest 27% below VT	$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT
	Highgate and Hardwick 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	$4,351Highest 14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hardwick 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%	9.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	29 minLowest 23% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%	11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Highgate and Hardwick 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	#68 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Hazen Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	8.6Lowest
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.