Compare towns
Franklin vs Williston vs West Paris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
West Paris has the most affordable homes ($193k median).
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 | Franklin | Williston | West Paris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,628Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±9.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
46±7.9Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franklin and West Paris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,455±$16k 19% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$56,324±$5kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,800±$59k 26% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$193,000±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $888±$306 37% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$838±$333Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,231 28% below U.S. |
$5,592Highest 79% above U.S. |
$2,083Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.7%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Paris and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
24.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±18.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Paris and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 17/MSAD 17 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.