Compare towns
Calais vs Johnson vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Swanton has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Calais | Johnson | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
3,450Highest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Highest about the VT average |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Calais and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Calais and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Calais and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,238±$103 about the VT average |
| Calais and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
21 minLowest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| High school in town | None 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.