Compare towns
Swanton vs Castleton vs Hampton vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
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 | Castleton | Hampton | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670 |
4,453Highest |
1,145Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$247,400±$66kHighest 26% below U.S. |
| Franklin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 12% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370Highest 40% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,384 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Franklin and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.