Compare towns
Franklin vs Townshend vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering FranklinBerkshire
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
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 | Townshend | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
1,538Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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 |
$78,750±$29kLowest 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±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.