Compare towns
Calais 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
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Calais | Franklin | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,590Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Calais and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Calais and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.