Compare towns
Highgate vs Lee vs Vernon 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 homeowners (80.7%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Lee | Vernon | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
5,719Highest |
2,709 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Lee 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 U.S. average |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$285,100±$25k 14% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$214 28% below U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Lee and Vernon 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. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$5,191Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lee | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet | 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.