Compare towns
Highgate vs Dover vs Williamstown 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Williamstown has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Dover | Williamstown | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,466Lowest |
3,579Highest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Dover 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 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Williamstown 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Williamstown 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±$21k 11% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Dover and Highgate 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| 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.