Compare towns
Vernon vs Brownington vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Vernon | Brownington | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
1,144Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
40.5±4.5Lowest 6% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brownington and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$75,556±$17kLowest 7% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Vernon 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.