What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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	Waitsfield
People
Population	3,528Highest	1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	44.3±5.3Highest about the VT average
	Waitsfield 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%	23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Waitsfield 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%	28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Waitsfield 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%	63.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.8%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Waitsfield 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	$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT
	Waitsfield 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	$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average
	Waitsfield 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	$6,208Highest 23% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Waitsfield 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%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980 4 yrs newer than VT	1980 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	25 minLowest 6% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9%
	Waitsfield 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	Harwood Unified Union School District #60
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.