Compare towns
Brighton 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
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Brighton | Franklin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% 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 | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% 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 | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$3,558Highest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | 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.