Compare towns
Dover 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Franklin has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Dover | Franklin | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466Lowest |
1,590 |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Dover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest 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+ | 29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 36% 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 | $332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — |
| High school 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.