Compare towns
Braintree vs Highgate vs Rochester
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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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 | Highgate | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,389 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Highgate and Braintree 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.5%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest 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±$5k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$72,676±$8kLowest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Braintree 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
| Highgate and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$929±$158Highest 25% below VT |
| Rochester 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,977Highest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Rochester and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| 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.