What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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	Spencer	Highgate
People
Population	12,008Highest	3,528Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S.	44±7.4Lowest 13% 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	16.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.3Lowest 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+	26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±5.2Lowest 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+	29.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±2.1Lowest 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	$80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average	$81,017±$14kHighest 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	$382,000±$22kHighest 15% above U.S.	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,078±$161Highest 24% below U.S.	$895±$691Lowest 37% 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	$4,387Highest 41% above U.S.	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.5%±11.3Lowest 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	11%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±7.2Lowest 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	#261 of 282 in MA	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	Spencer-E Brookfield	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	David Prouty High	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Highest	9.8Lowest
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.