Compare towns
Highgate vs Franklin vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Franklin | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,590Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston 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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Dummerston 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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 |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston 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 |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Dummerston 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.