What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	3,528Lowest	5,285Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT
	Stowe 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%	22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe 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%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Stowe 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%	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Highgate and Stowe 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	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT
	Stowe 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	$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT
	Stowe 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	$7,161Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Highest VT: 48.4%	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Highgate and Stowe 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%	9.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	19 minLowest 18% below VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe 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	—
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Missisquoi Valley Union High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.3Highest
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.