Compare towns
Franklin vs Plainfield vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($247k median).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Plainfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,372 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford and Plainfield 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | — | Strafford 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.