Compare towns
Brandon vs Highgate vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Brandon | Highgate | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
3,528Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Brandon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
9.8 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.