Compare towns
Highgate vs Calais vs Franklin vs Williamstown
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k median).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Calais | Franklin | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,713 |
1,590Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Calais 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$94,418±$10k 16% above VT |
| Calais and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Williamstown and Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.