Compare towns
Fletcher vs Franklin vs Highgate vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has the most homeowners (96.1%).
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Highgate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fletcher | Franklin | Highgate | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Lowest |
1,590 |
3,528 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3Highest 13% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Fletcher and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9k 30% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965 about the VT average |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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.