Compare towns
Brownington vs Highgate vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Ryegate has the shortest commute (28 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 | Brownington | Highgate | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,144 |
3,528Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.8% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brownington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Highgate and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$908±$236Highest 26% below VT |
| Ryegate and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,912Highest 22% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Ryegate 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 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.