Compare towns
Highgate vs Springfield 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Franklin | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
1,122Lowest |
1,590 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Williamstown 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%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Springfield 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% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Williamstown 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. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 14% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer 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. |
34 minHighest 30% 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% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Springfield 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.