Compare towns
Highgate vs Orange vs Franklin vs Williamstown
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 expensive homes ($281k median).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Orange | Franklin | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
7,573Highest |
1,590Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Highgate and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Williamstown 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 |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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±$21kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Highgate 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. |
$4,136Highest 33% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.