Compare towns
Swanton vs Dummerston vs Franklin vs Vernon
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).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Vernon has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Dummerston | Franklin | Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670 |
2,090 |
1,590Lowest |
2,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Vernon 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Vernon 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Vernon 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Vernon 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
| Dummerston and Swanton 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Dummerston 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Franklin 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 | — | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Vernon School District |
| 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.