Compare towns
Franklin vs Plainfield vs Williston vs Highgate
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).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Williston | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
1,314Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Williston 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Plainfield 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| 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±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| 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.