Compare towns
Franklin vs Newfields vs Highgate vs Berkshire
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 most renters (25.3% rent).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Newfields | Highgate | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
2,023 |
3,528Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
31.6±6.9Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Newfields 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berkshire 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$244,600±$26kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,525±$267 8% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Berkshire 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±52.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berkshire 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Newfields School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.