What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derby Line has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).

Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derby Line	Swanton
People
Population	783Lowest	2,670Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.7±13.3Highest 8% above VT	37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT
	Derby Line and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Swanton and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4%	19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Derby Line and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest VT: 43.8%	20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%
	Derby Line and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,518±$25kHighest 12% below VT	$66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT
	Derby Line and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT	$229,000±$15kHighest 28% below VT
	Swanton and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT	$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average
	Swanton and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,275Lowest 35% below VT	$4,370Highest 13% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	36.1%±21.6Highest VT: 48.4%
	Swanton and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	20.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT	1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 3% above VT	21 minLowest 9% below VT
Work from home	13.5%±9.8Highest VT: 16.9%	7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Derby Line and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.