Compare towns
Highgate vs Enosburgh vs Orange 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).
Enosburgh has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Orange | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,804 |
957Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Orange 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% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Orange 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% |
22.1%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%±1.9Lowest 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±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT 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 11% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% 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±$691 27% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Orange 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 |
$3,624Highest 28% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh 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% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— | — |
| 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.