Compare towns
Franklin vs Williston vs Sheldon vs Eden
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 renters (25.3% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Eden has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Williston | Sheldon | Eden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
10,144Highest |
2,267 |
1,351Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
37.7±1.9Lowest 13% below VT |
| Williston and Sheldon 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Franklin 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% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
17.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$83,578±$8k about the VT average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$215,900±$27kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,300±$441 5% above VT |
| Williston and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,384 33% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,313Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.3%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Franklin 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
77.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1991 15 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 63% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None 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.