Compare towns
Swanton vs Berkshire 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Berkshire has the youngest population (median age 31.6).
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 | Swanton | Berkshire | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
1,745 |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
31.6±6.9Lowest 27% 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%±8.1 VT: 17.9% |
27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Franklin 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% |
22%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Berkshire 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 |
$71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Berkshire 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 |
$244,600±$26k 23% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
| Franklin and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Berkshire and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.4%±52.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Berkshire 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% |
14.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
32 minHighest 37% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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.