Compare towns
Highgate vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Highgate | Brookfield | Castleton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Brookfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Castleton and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Franklin 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.