What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).

Pownal has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Pownal
People
Population	3,528Highest	3,265Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	49±9.1Highest 14% above VT
	Pownal 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%	16.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Pownal 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%	27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Pownal 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%	28.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Highgate and Pownal 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	$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT
	Highgate and Pownal 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	$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT
	Highgate and Pownal 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	$944±$139Highest 24% below VT
	Pownal 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	$3,560Highest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Pownal 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%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	92.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	21 minLowest 10% below VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Pownal 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	#67 of 70 in VT
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
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.