Compare towns
Franklin vs Ripton vs Swanton vs Berkshire
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%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Ripton | Swanton | Berkshire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
508Lowest |
2,670Highest |
1,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Swanton 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
— | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
| Berkshire and Swanton 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,370 13% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire and Ripton 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 | 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.