Compare towns
Clarendon vs Franklin vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Chester has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Clarendon | Franklin | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,460 |
1,590Lowest |
2,992Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.5% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
| Franklin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Franklin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$305Highest 11% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
| Clarendon and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,740 26% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±27.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Clarendon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 33% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Chester 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Mill River Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.