1st Advantage MortgageThe median Franklin County household earns $81,313, and 10% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Vermont before sharing details.
On this page
- 50,638 residents: Franklin County basics
- Employment and commuting in Franklin County
- Where Franklin County households live
- How much Franklin County households make
- How Franklin County ranks in Vermont
- Franklin County, Grand Isle County and other neighbors
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Franklin County
- Before borrowing in Franklin County
- Room for a loan payment in Franklin County
- People and households in Franklin County
- Lender oversight for Franklin County
- Steps before you apply in Franklin County
- Keep exploring
- Frequently asked questions
50,638 residents: Franklin County basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Franklin County's population at 50,638; only 4 of Vermont's 14 county-level areas are larger. Franklin County spans 631 square miles; with 50,638 people, that is 80.3 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Burlington-South Burlington, VT metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Largest place: St. Albans, about 6,954 residents (14% of Franklin County); 17 Census places in all.
Employment and commuting in Franklin County
Education and health care (25%), manufacturing (15%) and retail trade (11%) lead Franklin County's job mix. Compared with Vermont, the county leans toward manufacturing (15% against 10%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.2% in Franklin County. Commutes of 45 minutes-plus: 18%; under 15 minutes: 29%. 1,163 Franklin County households, 5.8%, have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Franklin County share | +/- vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.8% | -4.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.6% | +4.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 8.2% | +3.2 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | +0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -2.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Franklin County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Where Franklin County households live
$1,180 a month is the median gross rent in Franklin County, 4% below the state. About 5 in 10 Franklin County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $306,700, or 3.8 years of median income. 77% of Franklin County households own their home and 23% rent.
| Franklin County | Vermont | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,180/mo | $1,234/mo | 4% lower |
| Median home value | $306,700 | $316,600 | 3% lower |
| Owners | 77% | 73% | +4.2 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 48% | +0.6 pts |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 29% | -0.4 pts |
| Mobile homes | 6.5% | 5.9% | +0.6 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Franklin County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
How much Franklin County households make
Franklin County households have a median income of $81,313 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 6th of 14 in Vermont.
| Households earning | Franklin County | +/- vs Vermont |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 19.8% | -0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 32.7% | +3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.0% | -3.0 pts |
On the low end, 20% of Franklin County households report under $35,000; at the top, 41% report $100,000-plus. 10.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 10.1%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Franklin County median.
How Franklin County ranks in Vermont
Where Franklin County lands at the extremes of Vermont's county rankings:
- Few Vermont counties match Franklin County on median age: 40.8 here, 43.1 for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 14. A young county means many first-time borrowers; read every fee line.
- Few Vermont counties match Franklin County on the housing vacancy rate: 13% here, 19% for the state, ranking 2nd lowest of 14. Low vacancy tends to push rents up over time.
- The share of adults with a bachelor's degree: 30% in Franklin County. Only 1 of 14 Vermont counties are lower. Lenders weigh income and credit, not schooling.
Franklin County, Grand Isle County and other neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Franklin County's, from 20 to 43 miles away. Grand Isle County leads the group on income ($97,396), Orleans County trails ($70,103), and Franklin County out-earns 3 of the six. The list crosses into New York, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | - | $81,313 | $1,180/mo | 77% |
| Grand Isle County, VT | 20 mi | $97,396 | $1,425/mo | 90% |
| Lamoille County, VT | 22 mi | $74,908 | $1,160/mo | 73% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 28 mi | $96,759 | $1,646/mo | 64% |
| Orleans County, VT | 32 mi | $70,103 | $892/mo | 80% |
| Clinton County, NY | 40 mi | $71,224 | $1,003/mo | 69% |
| Washington County, VT | 43 mi | $83,449 | $1,163/mo | 74% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Franklin County
17 Census places fall mainly inside Franklin County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 35,613 residents, leaving about 30% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Fletcher ($105,833) and Enosburg Falls ($50,870) mark the top and bottom of Franklin County's income range among larger places. Median rent ranges from $832 in Enosburg Falls to $1,679 in Fletcher. Live in one of these Franklin County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Albans | city | 6,954 | $57,980 | $1,150 | 9 mi |
| Georgia | town | 4,890 | $105,011 | $1,629 | 14 mi |
| Highgate | town | 3,528 | $81,017 | $895 | 10 mi |
| Enosburgh | town | 2,804 | $63,828 | $852 | 8 mi |
| Swanton | village | 2,670 | $66,607 | $1,238 | 11 mi |
| Sheldon | town | 2,267 | $78,533 | $1,286 | 3 mi |
| Fairfield | town | 1,938 | $87,019 | $1,056 | 4 mi |
| Berkshire | town | 1,745 | $71,406 | $1,525 | 11 mi |
| Franklin | town | 1,590 | $79,917 | $891 | 8 mi |
| Richford | CDP | 1,573 | $52,083 | $1,124 | 15 mi |
| Enosburg Falls | village | 1,570 | $50,870 | $832 | 6 mi |
| Fletcher | town | 1,196 | $105,833 | $1,679 | 10 mi |
| Fairfax | CDP | 1,099 | $71,250 | $1,056 | 14 mi |
| Montgomery | town | 1,047 | $53,289 | $868 | 15 mi |
Before borrowing in Franklin County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Franklin County borrowers.
- Consolidation math. With 41% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- 49% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Consolidating cards in Franklin County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Room for a loan payment in Franklin County
DTI math using Franklin County medians ($81,313 income, $1,180 rent):
- $6,776 a month: gross income for a household at the Franklin County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($1,180)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,259 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Franklin County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
People and households in Franklin County
Degree holders: 30% of adults over 25. About 3% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Franklin County | Difference from Vermont | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.2% | -13.6 pts | +8.0 pts |
| Work from home | 14.3% | -2.6 pts | +5.6 pts |
| Median age | 40.8 | -2.3 yrs | -0.7 yrs |
| No high school diploma | 6.6% | +1.5 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.5% | -0.5 pts | -4.4 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.2% | -0.4 pts | -1.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | -0.3 pts | +0.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 10.3% | +0.2 pts | -2.9 pts |
| Minutes to work | Franklin County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
Lender oversight for Franklin County
Franklin County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. State-level detail for Franklin County borrowers is in the Vermont guide.
Steps before you apply in Franklin County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Franklin County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Vermont license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Keep exploring
Next step up from Franklin County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Franklin County earn?
The median is $81,313; 41% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Franklin County?
$1,180 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
I live near St. Albans. Which guide is mine?
This one. St. Albans and the rest of Franklin County have no separate city guide.
Will a Franklin County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Vermont as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
What agency protects Franklin County borrowers?
The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation at the state level and the CFPB federally.