Compare towns
Franklin vs Sheldon vs Tunbridge 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 affordable homes ($247k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Highgate has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Sheldon | Tunbridge | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
2,267 |
1,253Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
42.7±8.3 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±1.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Tunbridge 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Tunbridge 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Tunbridge 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,645Highest 8% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Tunbridge and Franklin 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | 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.