Compare towns
Franklin vs Castleton vs Hampton vs Berkshire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Castleton | Hampton | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
4,453Highest |
1,145Lowest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
31.6±6.9Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berkshire 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$244,600±$26k 26% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,525±$267Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Berkshire and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 8% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,545Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±52.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Berkshire 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 | 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.