Compare towns
Springfield vs Franklin vs Highgate vs Newport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 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 | Springfield | Franklin | Highgate | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,084Highest |
1,590Lowest |
3,528 |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT |
| Newport and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newport and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.3% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% 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 | $963±$100Highest 22% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Springfield and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Newport 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | Springfield High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.