Compare towns
Highgate vs Franklin vs Richford
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).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,590Lowest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Highgate and Richford 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% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Richford 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% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Richford 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 |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% 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 |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,160±$66Highest 6% below VT |
| Richford and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558Highest 29% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford and Franklin 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.