What stands out worked out from the figures below

Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	3,528Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	44±7.4Lowest about the VT average	45.1±2.7Highest 5% above VT
	Brookline 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%	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Highgate and Brookline 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%	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%	3.2%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	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±$14kHighest about the VT average	$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average
	Highgate and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT
	Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT
	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 29% below VT	$5,000Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 32% above VT	28 minLowest 21% above VT
Work from home	14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9%	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	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	—
School district	Missisquoi Valley School District #89	—
High school 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

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.