RANK #463 / 1001 NAT · POP 50,638
1YR FORECAST: -0.1%
5YR OUTLOOK: +29%
Franklin County, Vermont, is known for its agricultural heritage and natural scenery, particularly around Lake Champlain. St. Albans, the county seat, is recognized as the "Maple Syrup Capital of the World" and hosts the annual Vermont Maple Festival. Located in northwestern Vermont, the county borders Quebec, Canada, and is about 30 miles north of Burlington. Commuting to Burlington is often easier from towns along I-89 than from some closer areas. The community offers a rural feel with access to outdoor recreation, including hiking trails, biking on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, and water activities on Lake Champlain.
Life in Franklin County often appeals to those seeking a quieter, rural lifestyle. Many residents own their homes, and the area attracts families and young professionals. While agriculture, especially dairy and maple syrup production, remains a significant part of the economy, there's also a growing diversity in specialty crops. The county has seen an increase in housing costs, similar to the rest of northwestern Vermont. Public transportation, including commuter routes to St. Albans City and connections to Burlington, is available through Green Mountain Transit. Schools in the county include Montgomery Elementary School and Franklin Central School.
Franklin County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +1.9% YoY, population +0.5%, wages +0.7%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Prices detached from rents
Housing looks overvalued at 14.8x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Franklin County scores 53/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#463). Median household income is $81,313 and job growth is running at -3.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Franklin County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $306,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.27, with rents averaging $1,180/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Franklin County is attracting residents (population +0.5% YoY) even as the job market softens with employment at -3.3%. Housing values changed +1.9% over the past 12 months. People may be moving here for affordability or lifestyle reasons rather than job opportunities.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.01% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Franklin County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.