Compare towns
Johnson vs Middleton 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).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middleton | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,450 |
9,816Highest |
2,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7 about the U.S. average |
| Middleton 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanton and Middleton 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% |
41.7%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% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$66,607±$27k 17% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S. |
$229,000±$15k 31% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,238±$103 12% below U.S. |
| Middleton 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. |
$8,785Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,370 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middleton 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Middleton | — |
| 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.