Compare towns
Highgate vs Sutton 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
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sutton | Franklin | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
2,239 |
1,590Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Highest 24% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Franklin and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Sutton 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% |
44.3%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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Sutton 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. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% 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. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Sutton 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. |
$7,652Highest 145% 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% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%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% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% 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% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.4Highest |
— | 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.