Compare towns
Franklin vs Reading vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Reading | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590 |
699Lowest |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Franklin 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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.