Compare towns
Braintree vs Dummerston vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Dummerston | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
2,090 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Braintree and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.