What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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	Milton
People
Population	3,528Lowest	10,769Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Highest about the VT average	41.6±2.5Lowest 3% below VT
	Highgate and Milton 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%	17.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%
	Milton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Highgate and Milton 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%	3.5%±1.3Highest VT: 7%
	Milton 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±$14kLowest about the VT average	$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT	$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT
	Milton 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	$5,610Highest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Milton 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%	3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	86.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1985Highest 9 yrs newer 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%±2.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Highgate and Milton 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	#56 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Milton School District
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Milton Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	9.3Lowest
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.