Compare towns

Franklin vs Vernon vs Wallingford

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%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

MeasureFranklinVernonWallingford
People
Population
1,590Lowest
2,709Highest
2,286
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
38.8±6.9Lowest
10% below VT
42.6±5.4
about the VT average
45.9±10.8Highest
6% above VT
Wallingford and Vernon 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%
15.1%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
Franklin and Wallingford 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%
22.8%±2.1
VT: 21.4%
23.9%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Wallingford and Vernon 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%
26.6%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
3%±1.7
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Franklin and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,917±$21kLowest
about the VT average
$85,682±$9kHighest
6% above VT
$80,230±$15k
about the VT average
Vernon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$247,400±$66kLowest
22% below VT
$285,100±$25kHighest
10% below VT
$261,900±$44k
17% below VT
Vernon and Wallingford 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
$1,023±$214Highest
17% below VT
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
Vernon 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
$5,191Highest
3% above VT
$4,355
14% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±42.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
26.2%±3.7
VT: 48.4%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Franklin and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
76.2%
VT: 73.2%
82.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
8% above VT
20 minLowest
14% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
18.1%±4.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.4%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #30 of 70 in VT —
School district Missisquoi Valley School District #89 Vernon School District Mill River Unified Union School District #52
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.