Compare towns
Franklin vs Hampton vs Sheldon 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%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.5%).
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 | Hampton | Sheldon | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
1,145Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
31.6±6.9Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berkshire and Sheldon 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% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Berkshire 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 U.S. average |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 26% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$244,600±$26k 26% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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. |
$1,264±$375 11% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,525±$267Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Berkshire and Sheldon 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. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,578Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±52.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berkshire and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.