Compare towns
Brookline vs Highgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Brookline | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
3,528 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Highgate and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.