Compare towns
Fairlee vs Franklin vs Highgate vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Franklin | Highgate | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,590 |
3,528Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
55.6±9.6 29% above VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% 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 | $274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
| Townshend and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Highest 12% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 3% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.