Compare towns
Franklin vs Swanton vs Westminster vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
2,670 |
2,999 |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest 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 |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Westminster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Franklin 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% 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 |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Westminster 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±$103Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 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 |
24 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
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.