Compare towns
Barnard vs Franklin vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Barnard | Franklin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Barnard and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Barnard and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Franklin 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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 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.