Compare towns
Johnson vs Northfield vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | Johnson | Northfield | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
5,920Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
36.4±4.1 16% below VT |
38.8±6.9Highest 10% below VT |
| Franklin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45 23% below VT |
$1,018±$207Highest 18% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Northfield 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.