Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Reading vs Windham
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Reading | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
3,528Highest |
699 |
594Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Reading 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Windham 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Reading 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
| Reading and Windham 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— |
| Reading 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windham 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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 | 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.