Compare towns
Brookline vs Highgate vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 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 | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.6±5.4Lowest 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%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon and Highgate 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% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Vernon 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 |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Brookline and Vernon 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 |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Highgate 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% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District |
| High school 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.