Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering FranklinBerkshire
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Highgate | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
3,528Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Lancaster 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% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Lancaster 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% 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. |
$280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% 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±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Highest 28% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Lancaster 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.