Compare towns
Highgate vs Jay vs Middlebury vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Middlebury has the most expensive homes ($410k median).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Jay | Middlebury | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
471Lowest |
9,175Highest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Middlebury 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$86,169±$16kHighest 6% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Middlebury 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$409,700±$30kHighest 29% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $1,156±$113Highest 6% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Middlebury 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Middlebury 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Middlebury 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 | — | #17 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.