What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benson	Franklin
People
Population	784Lowest	1,590Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	-3%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT	38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT
	Benson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%	15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±5.8Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7%
	Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT	$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average
	Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT	$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT
	Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT	$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT
	Benson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,125Highest 18% below VT	$3,384Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4%	45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Benson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 35% above VT	25 minLowest 8% above VT
Work from home	18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9%	18.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Benson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.