Compare towns
Highgate vs Richmond vs Williston vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Richmond | Williston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
4,159 |
10,144Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Williston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Williston 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% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Williston 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
| Richmond and Williston 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 |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Williston and Richmond 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 |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Franklin 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% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.