Compare towns
Highgate vs Mount Tabor vs Peru vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Mount Tabor | Peru | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
304Lowest |
434 |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
57.8±10.6Highest 34% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Peru 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% |
10.2%±6.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
42.4%±18.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mount Tabor and Highgate 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% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.6%±4Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 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 |
— | $151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
| Peru 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 |
$420,500±$76kHighest 33% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Peru 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 |
$2,143±$367Highest 74% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Mount Tabor and Peru 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 |
$5,233Highest 4% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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% |
11%Highest VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1946Lowest 30 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
46 minHighest 94% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Highgate 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 | — | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — | 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.