Compare towns
Franklin vs Northfield vs Brownington
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Brownington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Northfield | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
5,920Highest |
1,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
40.5±4.5Highest 6% below VT |
| Brownington 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brownington 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% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Franklin 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% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
| Franklin and Brownington 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 |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266 28% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Northfield 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.