Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering FranklinBerkshire
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Westminster 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 VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| 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±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Westminster 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 |
$916±$126Highest 26% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$4,063Highest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Franklin 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 | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.