What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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	Sutton	Highgate
People
Population	2,239Lowest	3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S.	44±7.4Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Sutton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sutton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Highgate and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sutton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S.	$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S.	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S.	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Sutton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,652Highest 145% above U.S.	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Highgate and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Highgate and Sutton 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	Kearsarge Regional School District	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	Kearsarge Regional High School	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	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.