Compare towns
Highgate vs Swanton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Swanton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
2,670 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Franklin 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Swanton 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% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest 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±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT 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 11% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Swanton and Highgate 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 |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest 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 |
| High school in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.