Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Unity vs Berkshire
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%).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Highgate | Unity | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
3,528Highest |
1,375Lowest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
31.6±6.9Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Berkshire 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±$14k about the U.S. average |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Unity and Highgate 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$244,600±$26kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Unity 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. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,525±$267 8% above U.S. |
| Unity and Berkshire 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±52.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berkshire 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.3 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Unity School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.