Compare towns
Highgate vs Windham vs Wallingford vs Franklin
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).
Wallingford has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Wallingford | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,528Highest |
594Lowest |
2,286 |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
| Wallingford and Windham 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% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Wallingford 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%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wallingford and Windham 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% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 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±$14k about the VT average |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
| Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$691Highest 27% below VT |
— | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Wallingford 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 |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | 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.