Compare towns
Johnson vs Colrain vs Swanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Johnson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).
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 | Johnson | Colrain | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450Highest |
1,627Lowest |
2,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7 about the U.S. average |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$66,607±$27k 17% below U.S. |
| Colrain 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 49% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,238±$103Highest 12% below U.S. |
| Swanton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$4,370Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Johnson and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Johnson and Colrain 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 | Mohawk Trail | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.