Compare towns
Highgate vs White River Junction vs Franklin vs Vernon
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 most homeowners (80.7%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
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 | White River Junction | Franklin | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
3,364 |
1,590Lowest |
2,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Vernon 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Vernon 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 |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| White River Junction and Vernon 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and White River Junction 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District |
| 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.