Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Walpole
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%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k 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 | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
3,528 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
32.9%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% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Walpole 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 U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$82,617±$16kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Walpole 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±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| Walpole and Highgate 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. |
$1,165±$150Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Walpole 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. |
$6,078Highest 95% 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% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 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% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Fall Mountain 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 Our Story | 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.