Compare towns
Highgate vs Enosburgh vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Enosburgh | Hardwick | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,804 |
2,965 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Hardwick and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Enosburgh 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% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick 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 VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Enosburgh 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 |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Hardwick 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 |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% 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±$691Highest 27% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh and Hardwick 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% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.4Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.