Compare towns
Roxbury vs Highgate vs Braintree vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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.
| Measure | Roxbury | Highgate | Braintree | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 942Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,026 |
1,070 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 35.6±11.7 17% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 30.6%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.9% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,214±$22k 10% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Highgate and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,600±$55k 23% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Highgate and Roxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$495Highest 23% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
| Roxbury and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,284Highest 15% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 27.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Lowell School District |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.