Compare towns

Johnson vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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.

MeasureJohnsonGorhamSwanton
People
Population
3,450
18,300Highest
2,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
30.9±6.5Lowest
21% below U.S.
39.4±2.9Highest
about the U.S. average
37.8±4.7
about the U.S. average
Gorham 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%
20.9%±3.5Lowest
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%
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.3%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Swanton and Gorham 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%
44.3%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%
13.1%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Johnson and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$55,346±$14kLowest
31% below U.S.
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$66,607±$27k
17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$169,400±$62kLowest
49% below U.S.
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$229,000±$15k
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$948±$45Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,238±$103
12% below U.S.
Gorham and Swanton 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.
$4,825Highest
55% above U.S.
$4,370
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±20.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
36.1%±21.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Johnson and Gorham 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%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
20.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
8.8%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #57 of 70 in VT #24 of 133 in ME —
School district Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Gorham Public Schools —
High school in town None in town Gorham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.9
—
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.