Compare towns
Brandon 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
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Brandon | Franklin | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,120Highest |
1,590Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3Lowest 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+ | 22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon and Swanton 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 VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225 14% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Brandon 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 | — | — |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.