Compare towns
Franklin vs Highgate vs Williston vs Richford
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).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Richford has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
3,528 |
10,144Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% 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 |
39±3.6 10% 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%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Richford 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% 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% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Richford 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 |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% 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 |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% 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% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford 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% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 min 18% 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% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest 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 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.