Compare towns
Franklin vs Castleton vs Salisbury 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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Castleton | Salisbury | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
4,453Highest |
1,200 |
1,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
| Salisbury and Brownington 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
| Salisbury 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±$66k 22% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Salisbury and Franklin 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Salisbury and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 33% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,842Highest 4% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.