Compare towns
Swanton vs Orange 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
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 | Orange | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
957Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Orange 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% |
15.6%±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% |
19.4%±4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Orange 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% |
22.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
| 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 about the VT average |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Orange 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%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.