Compare towns
Lowell vs Franklin vs Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Franklin | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070Lowest |
1,590 |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
42.6±5.4Highest about the VT average |
| Vernon 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% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 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 | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
| Vernon and Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
| Vernon and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46 23% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,023±$214Highest 17% below VT |
| Vernon and Lowell 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 |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Lowell 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 135% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lowell School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District |
| 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.