Compare towns
Swanton vs Highgate vs Vernon vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Swanton | Highgate | Vernon | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670 |
3,528Highest |
2,709 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Highgate and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest 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+ | 20.2% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest 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 | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% 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 | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Swanton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 13% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District | 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.