Compare towns
Swanton vs Strafford 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 most renters (35.2% rent).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
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 | Strafford | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Lowest 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
| Strafford and Franklin 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Swanton and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | 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.