Compare towns
Highgate vs Jericho vs Jay 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Jericho | Jay | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
5,114Highest |
471Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jay and Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Jericho 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest 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 |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
— | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho 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% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Jericho 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— | — |
| 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.