Compare towns

Franklin vs Newfane 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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.

MeasureFranklinNewfaneBerkshire
People
Population
1,590
1,456Lowest
1,745Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
-8.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.8±6.9
10% below VT
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
31.6±6.9Lowest
27% below VT
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.6
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
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%
29.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.8%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
22%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
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±$21kHighest
about the VT average
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
$71,406±$21k
12% below VT
Franklin and Berkshire 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
$284,200±$49kHighest
10% below VT
$244,600±$26kLowest
23% below VT
Newfane 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
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
$1,525±$267Highest
24% above VT
Berkshire and Newfane 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
$5,174Highest
about the VT average
$3,545
30% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±42.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
57.4%±52.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
Berkshire and Newfane 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%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
14.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
77.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
8% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
32 minHighest
37% above VT
Work from home
18.1%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A 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

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.