Compare towns

Brownington vs Jay vs Franklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureBrowningtonJayFranklin
People
Population
1,144
471Lowest
1,590Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.5%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.5±4.5
6% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
Jay and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.1%±3.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±5.6
VT: 17.9%
Brownington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.7%±2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
15.3%±1.4
VT: 21.4%
Jay and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.8%
VT: 43.8%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,556±$17k
7% below VT
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$79,917±$21kHighest
about the VT average
Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$193,800±$40kLowest
39% below VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$247,400±$66kHighest
22% below VT
Franklin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$745±$504Lowest
40% below VT
—
$891±$266Highest
28% below VT
Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,912Highest
22% below VT
$3,588
29% below VT
$3,384Lowest
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
78.5%±29.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
45.5%±42.2
VT: 48.4%
Brownington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
21.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
9 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1983Lowest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
41% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
Work from home
6%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.