Compare towns

Franklin vs Jay 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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.

MeasureFranklinJayBrownington
People
Population
1,590Highest
471Lowest
1,144
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+5.5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
40.5±4.5
6% below VT
Jay 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%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
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%
15.5%±6.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.7%±2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Jay and Franklin 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%
45.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.8%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 7%
5%±2.5
VT: 7%
Franklin and Brownington 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 VT average
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$75,556±$17k
7% below VT
Franklin and Brownington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$247,400±$66kHighest
22% below VT
$234,200±$45k
26% below VT
$193,800±$40kLowest
39% below VT
Franklin and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$891±$266Highest
28% below VT
—
$745±$504Lowest
40% below VT
Franklin and Brownington 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
$3,588
29% below VT
$3,912Highest
22% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±42.2
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
78.5%±29.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Brownington and Franklin 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%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
21.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
7 yrs newer than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1985
9 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
8% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
Work from home
18.1%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6%±2.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay 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 Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
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

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.