Compare towns
Franklin vs Gorham vs Highgate vs Richford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Gorham has the oldest population (median age 53.9).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Franklin | Gorham | Highgate | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
2,682 |
3,528Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
39±3.6 about the U.S. average |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.4%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Gorham 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 U.S. average |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| 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±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$176,600±$16k 47% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266 37% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,160±$66Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Richford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 8% above U.S. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,300Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Richford and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.8%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
9.8Highest |
9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.