Compare towns
Benson vs Franklin vs Highgate vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Benson | Franklin | Highgate | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 35% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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| 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.