Compare towns
Cornwall vs Franklin vs Highgate vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Cornwall | Franklin | Highgate | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,208Lowest |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 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 |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.