Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Williston vs Brownington
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 youngest population (median age 38.8).
Highgate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Williston | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
3,528 |
10,144Highest |
1,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington 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 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Williston 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±$14k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$75,556±$17kLowest 7% below VT |
| Williston 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 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Williston 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| 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 | 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.