Compare towns
Johnson vs Cavendish vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Cavendish has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Johnson | Cavendish | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
1,242Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
45.2±5.9Highest 5% above VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below VT |
| Cavendish and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
| Cavendish and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$4,370Highest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 42% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #57 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| 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.