Compare towns
Highgate vs Worcester vs Brookline vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($291k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Worcester | Brookline | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
831 |
531Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Worcester and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Williamstown 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Williamstown 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 VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,659±$189 34% above VT |
| Brookline and Williamstown 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Brookline 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.