Compare towns
Swanton vs White River Junction 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 affordable homes ($229k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,670 |
3,364Highest |
1,590Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
38.8±6.9Highest 10% below VT |
| Franklin and Swanton 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest 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%±2.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Swanton and Franklin 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
| Franklin and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
| Swanton and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.