Compare towns
Swanton vs Arlington vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Franklin has the oldest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Swanton | Arlington | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
2,598 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.8±6.9Highest 10% below VT |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Arlington and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Arlington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$318,500±$59kHighest about the VT average |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Arlington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,191±$172 3% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Swanton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 13% below VT |
$4,549Highest 10% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Arlington School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.