Compare towns
Brookline vs Highgate vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most people working from home (20.6%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Highgate | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531 |
3,528Highest |
470Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±8.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
| Marshfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$178,300±$31kLowest 44% below VT |
| Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,125±$79 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline and Marshfield 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school 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.