Compare towns
Stannard vs Franklin vs Jay vs Walden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stannard has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Walden has the highest household income ($88k).
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 | Stannard | Franklin | Jay | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 228Lowest |
1,590Highest |
471 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.3±14.6 12% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Jay and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±9.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.9%±8.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Stannard and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±6.2Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,979±$30kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
| Walden and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $216,200±$44kLowest 32% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Franklin and Walden 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 |
— | $900±$136Highest 27% below VT |
| Walden and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Highest 17% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.6%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Walden 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.