Compare towns
Berkshire vs Worcester vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 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 | Berkshire | Worcester | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,745Highest |
831Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Worcester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26kLowest 23% below VT |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Worcester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.