Compare towns
Elmore vs Highgate vs Vernon vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Elmore | Highgate | Vernon | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
| Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Elmore and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Elmore and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066 about the VT average |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Elmore and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 25% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.