Compare towns
Highgate vs Belvidere vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Belvidere has the most homeowners (86.1%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Highgate | Belvidere | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
422Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Highgate and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest 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 | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$239,200±$51kLowest 24% 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 | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Belvidere and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| 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.