Compare towns
Hardwick vs Highgate vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Highgate | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,965 |
3,528Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest 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 | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$891±$266 28% 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 | $4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
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.