Compare towns
Highgate vs Hampton vs Fair Haven vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Hampton | Fair Haven | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,145Lowest |
2,724 |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Fair Haven 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 U.S. average |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. 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 16% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| 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 37% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,865Highest 24% above U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.