Compare towns
Brandon 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
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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 | Brandon | Franklin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,590Lowest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Brandon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest 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 | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% 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 | $1,064±$225Highest 14% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Brandon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241Highest 16% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.