Compare towns
Highgate vs Colrain 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
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 | Colrain | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,627 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Highest 22% below U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain and Franklin 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest 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 | Mohawk Trail | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.