What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

Highgate has the most expensive 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	Springfield	Highgate
People
Population	9,084Highest	3,528Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average	44±7.4Highest about the VT average
	Highgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%	22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.3%Highest VT: 43.8%	19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%	2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Highgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT	$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average
	Highgate and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT	$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$963±$100Highest 22% below VT	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT
	Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,807Highest 5% below VT	$3,558Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4%	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 16% above VT	31 minHighest 32% above VT
Work from home	15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9%	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Springfield 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	#64 of 70 in VT	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	Springfield High School	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.3Highest	9.8Lowest
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.