Compare towns
Franklin vs Swanton vs Williamstown
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%).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,590Lowest |
2,670 |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
42±5Highest about the VT average |
| Williamstown 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Lowest 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%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Williamstown 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 |
$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Franklin and Williamstown 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±$103 about the VT average |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Williamstown 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 | — | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.