Compare towns

Franklin vs Highgate vs Windham

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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureFranklinHighgateWindham
People
Population
1,590Lowest
3,528
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.8±6.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44±7.4Highest
13% above U.S.
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
Highgate and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Franklin 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%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Highgate and Windham 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%
62.7%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%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Franklin and Windham 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
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$247,400±$66kLowest
26% below U.S.
$280,500±$21k
16% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$891±$266Lowest
37% below U.S.
$895±$691
37% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,384Lowest
8% above U.S.
$3,558
14% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% 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%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
4% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
18.1%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Windham School District
High school in town None in town Missisquoi Valley Union High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8Lowest
12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.