Compare towns
Franklin vs Putney vs Waterville
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 kids (23.5% under 18).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Putney | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
2,622Highest |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Waterville 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% |
18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
| Franklin and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
| Waterville 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.