Compare towns
Highgate vs Orange 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%).
Orange has the most renters (30% rent).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Vernon | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
7,573Highest |
2,709 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
42.6±5.4 10% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Vernon 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% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest 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%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Vernon 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Vernon 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. |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Vernon 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 16% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$285,100±$25kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Vernon and Highgate 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. |
$1,023±$214Highest 28% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
| Vernon 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. |
$4,136 33% 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% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%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. |
1966Lowest 14 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 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.