What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).

Franklin has the most renters (35.8% 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.

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

Measure	Brandon	Franklin
People
Population	4,120Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S.	42.7±2Lowest 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22%	17.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brandon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brandon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Franklin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S.	$71,648±$4kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,800±$23kLowest 32% below U.S.	$262,200±$22kHighest 21% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,064±$225Lowest 25% below U.S.	$1,110±$68Highest 21% below U.S.
	Franklin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,241Lowest 36% above U.S.	$4,886Highest 57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.7%±15.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.8%±11.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brandon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	64.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S.	1959Highest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brandon and Franklin 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	#69 of 70 in VT	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53	Franklin School District
High school in town	Otter Valley Union High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.9Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.