Compare towns
Highgate vs Sheldon vs Exeter 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | Sheldon | Exeter | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,267 |
913Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$14kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Highgate and Franklin 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$891±$266 37% below U.S. |
| Sheldon 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. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | 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 | 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.