Compare towns
Franklin vs Jay vs Swanton
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 highest household income ($80k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Jay | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
471Lowest |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Jay and Franklin 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Franklin and Jay 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% 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±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
— | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Jay 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.