Compare towns
Franklin vs Swanton vs Sheldon 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 people working from home (18.1%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Swanton | Sheldon | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
2,670 |
2,267 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Sheldon 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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 |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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 |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Sheldon and Swanton 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 |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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 | 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 Our Story | 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.