What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hinesburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

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	Hinesburg
People
Population	3,528Lowest	4,718Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+6.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT
	Hinesburg and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	18%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Hinesburg and Highgate 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%	25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Hinesburg 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%	64.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7%
	Highgate and Hinesburg 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	$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT
	Hinesburg 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	$463,400±$51kHighest 46% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT
	Hinesburg 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	$7,667Highest 52% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	52.2%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Hinesburg 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%	8.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	20 minLowest 17% below VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.6%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Hinesburg 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	#4 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Champlain Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	14.5Highest
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.