Compare towns
Franklin vs Reading vs Eden 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Eden has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Reading | Eden | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
699Lowest |
1,351 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
37.7±1.9Lowest 13% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Eden 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.1%±3.8 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Eden 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 VT average |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$83,578±$8k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Reading and Eden 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$215,900±$27kLowest 32% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,300±$441Highest 5% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Eden and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 33% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,313Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.3%±39 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1991Highest 15 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 63% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None 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.