What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).

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

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	Orwell	Highgate
People
Population	1,294Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8%	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.5±7Highest 10% above VT	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average
	Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4%	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7%	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT	$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average
	Highgate and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT	$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$51Highest 10% below VT	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT
	Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,914Highest 22% below VT	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4%	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Orwell and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT	1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 15% above VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Highgate and Orwell 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	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	None 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

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.