Compare towns
Highgate vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 44).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Plainfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,522 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Plainfield 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Plainfield School District | 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 |
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.