Compare towns

Highgate vs Jericho vs Williston 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 homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.

MeasureHighgateJerichoWillistonFranklin
People
Population
3,528
5,114
10,144Highest
1,590Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.8%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44±7.4
about the VT average
49.7±5.1Highest
15% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
Jericho and Williston 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%
19.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Franklin and Williston 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%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
15.3%±1.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Highgate and Williston 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%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
21.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
Franklin and Williston 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
$106,967±$12k
32% above VT
$79,917±$21kLowest
about the VT average
Jericho and Williston 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
$493,100±$38kHighest
56% above VT
$475,800±$40k
50% above VT
$247,400±$66kLowest
22% below VT
Jericho and Williston 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
$1,731±$111
40% above VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$891±$266Lowest
28% below VT
Williston and Jericho 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
$7,318Highest
45% above VT
$5,592
11% above 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%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
45.5%±42.2
VT: 48.4%
Jericho and Williston 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%
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
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
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
26 min
10% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
25 min
8% above VT
Work from home
14.9%±7.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.8%±6.4
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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.