Compare towns
Westminster vs Highgate vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Brookline has the most homeowners (84.9%).
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 | Westminster | Highgate | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 497Lowest |
3,528Highest |
531 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 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 | 28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 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 | $81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$895±$691 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 | $4,480 11% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 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 | 2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | #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 | 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.