Compare towns
Waterville vs Franklin vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
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 | Waterville | Franklin | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
1,590 |
3,450Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| Waterville and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Franklin and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Franklin and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Franklin and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Highest 10% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$948±$45 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Highest 21% below VT |
$3,384 33% below VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
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.