What stands out worked out from the figures below

Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).

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	Royalton	Highgate
People
Population	2,752Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.9±10.1Lowest about the VT average	44±7.4Highest about the VT average
	Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8%±4.2Highest VT: 7%	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Royalton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT	$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average
	Royalton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,200±$73kLowest 17% below VT	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT
	Highgate and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,040±$391Highest 16% below VT	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT
	Royalton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,675Highest 7% below VT	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.7%±16.1Highest VT: 48.4%	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Royalton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 13% below VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	17.8%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	White River Unified School District #79	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	White River Valley High School	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.7Lowest	9.8Highest
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.