Compare towns
Franklin vs Worcester vs Sheldon vs Richford
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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Worcester | Sheldon | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,590 |
831Lowest |
2,267 |
2,467Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
39±3.6 10% below VT |
| Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% below VT |
| Franklin and Sheldon 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% below VT |
| Sheldon and Worcester 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±$136 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Sheldon and Richford 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 |
$4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,300Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Richford 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Franklin 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.1 |
| 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.