Compare towns
Barnet vs Franklin vs Highgate vs Peacham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Barnet | Franklin | Highgate | Peacham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
887Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
| Peacham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
| Peacham and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,028±$248Highest 17% below VT |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Peacham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | 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.