Compare towns
Lowell vs Dover vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most kids (30.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Franklin has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Lowell | Dover | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,466 |
1,590Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Dover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15k 29% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Dover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Highest 23% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
| Lowell and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lowell School District | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| 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.