Compare towns
Franklin vs Swanton vs Westminster
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 highest household income ($80k).
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Swanton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
2,670 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Franklin and Westminster 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 |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Franklin 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Franklin 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.