Compare towns
Franklin vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Westminster | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
497Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Westminster 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% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest 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±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
| Highgate and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Westminster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266 28% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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 |
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.