Compare towns
Franklin vs Hardwick vs Plainfield
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Hardwick | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
2,965Highest |
1,314Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Plainfield 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% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Hardwick 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
| Hardwick 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 |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Plainfield 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±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Plainfield and Franklin 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.