Compare towns
Franklin vs Jay vs Windham vs Berkshire
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%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
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 | Jay | Windham | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
471Lowest |
594 |
1,745Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Jay and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire 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%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| 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±$21k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,406±$21kLowest 12% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
— | — | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
32 min 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Windham 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 | — | 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 |
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.