What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

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	Plainfield
People
Population	3,528Highest	1,016Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S.	34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S.
	Highgate and Plainfield 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%	15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Highgate and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Highgate and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	28.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Plainfield 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	$70,673±$6kLowest 12% below U.S.
	Highgate and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S.	$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Highest 37% below U.S.	$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S.
	Highgate and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Highest 14% above U.S.	$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.6%±43.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Plainfield 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Highgate and Plainfield 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	—
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.