Compare towns
Highgate vs Stratton vs Franklin vs Sheldon
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 oldest population (median age 44).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Stratton | Franklin | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
532Lowest |
1,590 |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Highgate and Sheldon 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Sheldon 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.5% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| 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±$14k about the VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Stratton 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 11% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,558 29% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.