Compare towns
Arlington 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
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 38.8).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
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 | Arlington | Franklin | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,598 |
1,590Lowest |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.8±6.9Highest 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest 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+ | 20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Arlington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Arlington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #50 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Arlington School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.