Compare towns
Franklin vs Ripton vs Springfield 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Ripton | Springfield | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
508Lowest |
9,084Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Springfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
— | $963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Springfield 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Ripton 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.