What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).

Spencer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).

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	Spencer
People
Population	3,528Lowest	12,008Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S.	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.
	Spencer 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 U.S.: 22%	16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Spencer 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 U.S.: 17.2%	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Spencer 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 U.S.: 35.7%	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Spencer 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	$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
	Highgate and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.	$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S.
	Spencer and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.	$4,387Highest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Spencer 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 U.S.: 12.5%	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Spencer 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	#261 of 282 in MA
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Spencer-E Brookfield
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	David Prouty High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	9.9Highest
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.