Compare towns
Franklin vs Halifax vs Newark
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Newark has the most affordable homes ($230k 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 | Halifax | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Highest |
847 |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
41.4±6Highest 4% below VT |
| Newark and Halifax 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Franklin and Newark 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
| Halifax 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,771 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | Halifax School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.