Compare towns
Swanton vs Chester 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%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Chester | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
2,992Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Chester 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
33.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Swanton 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 |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
| Franklin and Chester 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 |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370Highest 13% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Swanton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.