Compare towns
Franklin vs Middlesex vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
1,943 |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Swanton 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Middlesex 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Swanton 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.