What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Highgate	Brookline
People
Population	3,528Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S.	41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Highgate and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average	$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.	$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.	$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S.
	Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Highgate and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	33 minHighest 26% above U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	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	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	Brookline 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

U.S. 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.