Compare towns
Highgate vs Mendon vs Whiting vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most expensive homes ($357k median).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
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 | Mendon | Whiting | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
1,113 |
532Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Mendon 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% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Whiting 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whiting 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Franklin 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.