Compare towns
Franklin vs Plainfield vs Windham 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 renters (25.3% rent).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Brownington has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Plainfield | Windham | Brownington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590Highest |
1,314 |
594Lowest |
1,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40.5±4.5 6% below VT |
| Plainfield and Windham 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Brownington 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 |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$75,556±$17k 7% below VT |
| Windham 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$193,800±$40kLowest 39% below VT |
| Windham and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
— | $745±$504Lowest 40% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,912 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
78.5%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brownington and Plainfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
21.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.