Compare towns

Dummer vs Swanton vs Columbia

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummer has the highest household income ($91k).
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Columbia has the most people working from home (11.2%).

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.

MeasureDummerSwantonColumbia
People
Population
299Lowest
2,670Highest
683
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
37.8±4.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.8±10.1
33% above U.S.
Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
24.3%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Swanton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.9%±8.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Columbia and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
14.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Columbia and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$21kHighest
13% above U.S.
$66,607±$27k
17% below U.S.
$57,917±$13kLowest
28% below U.S.
Dummer and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,200±$51kHighest
27% below U.S.
$229,000±$15k
31% below U.S.
$196,400±$29kLowest
41% below U.S.
Dummer and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,238±$103Highest
12% below U.S.
$792±$333Lowest
44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,898
7% below U.S.
$4,370Highest
40% above U.S.
$2,009Lowest
36% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±21.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
9.1%±95.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Swanton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
21 min
19% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
6.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Columbia 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 None yet

U.S. 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.