Compare towns
Franklin vs Benson vs Enosburgh vs Brownington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Enosburgh has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Benson | Enosburgh | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
784Lowest |
2,804Highest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
40.6±3.9 6% below VT |
40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
| Benson and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest 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+ | 15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
| Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Franklin and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266 28% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$852±$87 31% below VT |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Benson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Franklin 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 | — | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.