Compare towns
Swanton vs Westminster vs Windsor 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).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Franklin has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Westminster | Windsor | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670 |
2,999 |
3,554Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Westminster and Windsor 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% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 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% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Westminster 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and Westminster 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 |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Westminster and Franklin 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 |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,370 13% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 24 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 9% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min 3% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.