Compare towns
Franklin vs Lowell 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 highest household income ($80k).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k 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.
| Measure | Franklin | Lowell | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Highest |
1,070Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Lowell 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 |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Franklin and Plainfield 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 |
$183,400±$33kLowest 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±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$945±$46 23% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 33% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
9.6% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lowell 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.