Compare towns
Franklin vs Calais vs Sheldon
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 most renters (25.3% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Calais | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
1,713 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
| Calais and Sheldon 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% |
22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Calais and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
| Calais and Sheldon 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Franklin 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% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None 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.