Compare towns
Highgate vs Windham vs Franklin vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Swanton 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 | Windham | Franklin | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528 |
594Lowest |
1,590 |
6,820Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4Highest about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
43.7±5.5 about the VT average |
| Windham 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Swanton 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Swanton 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,371±$14k about the VT average |
| Windham and Swanton 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$285,100±$35k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691 27% below VT |
— | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,257±$133Highest about the VT average |
| 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 |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,449 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±14.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
13%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Franklin 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 | — | — | #27 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.