Compare towns

Franklin vs Barnet vs Highgate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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.

MeasureFranklinBarnetHighgate
People
Population
1,590Lowest
1,855
3,528Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.6%
VT: +2.8%
-1.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
44±7.4
about the VT average
Barnet and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
15.8%±5.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Franklin and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
22.2%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%
VT: 43.8%
35.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
19.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
Franklin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,917±$21k
about the VT average
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$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
$247,400±$66kLowest
22% below VT
$247,900±$24k
22% below VT
$280,500±$21kHighest
11% below VT
Highgate and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$891±$266Lowest
28% below VT
$974±$72Highest
21% below VT
$895±$691
27% below VT
Barnet and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,384Lowest
33% below VT
$4,489Highest
11% below VT
$3,558
29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±42.2
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.5%±11.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
8% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
18.1%±4.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5Lowest
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 Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 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.