Compare towns

Johnson vs Derry 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 the most affordable homes ($169k median).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.

MeasureJohnsonDerrySwanton
People
Population
3,450
34,116Highest
2,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
30.9±6.5Lowest
21% below U.S.
40.3±1.6Highest
4% above U.S.
37.8±4.7
about the U.S. average
Derry 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%
20.7%±2.1Lowest
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%
15.2%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Swanton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%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%
6.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$108,944±$7kHighest
35% above U.S.
$66,607±$27k
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$432,000±$17kHighest
30% above U.S.
$229,000±$15k
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,547±$138Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,238±$103
12% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,310Lowest
6% above U.S.
$8,103Highest
160% above U.S.
$4,370
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±20.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±21.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
12.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
8.8%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Derry 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 #60 of 120 in NH —
School district Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District —
High school in town None in town Pinkerton Academy —
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.9
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.