Compare towns
Highgate vs Benson vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Highgate | Benson | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
271Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
50.7±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Benson and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$69,375±$13kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. 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 | $280,500±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$230,100±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Highest 37% below U.S. |
— | $891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Highest 14% above U.S. |
$2,528Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.