Compare towns
Highgate vs Brookline vs Sheldon vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Highgate | Brookline | Sheldon | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
5,736Highest |
2,267Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$85,682±$9k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Sheldon 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,191 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Brookline School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Vernon School District |
| 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 |
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.